Today’s Bible Journaling verse is 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (NASB 1995) As a matter of background, the Apostle Paul is dealing with issues in the Corinthian church. This church had several problems, including a discussion regarding eating meat offered to idols. Some didn’t feel it was a problem because God knew their heart, and they weren’t worshipping the idols. Others felt conviction for eating that meat for they viewed it as sin for them. Paul is explaining that to honor God, if someone felt eating that meat was a sin, then he told the church to refrain from eating that meat so that their brother in Christ wouldn’t fall into sin.
Every sermon I’ve heard on this passage has focused on the eating of the meat and not causing our fellow Believers to fall into sin. There seems to be no emphasis on the part of the verse that tells us, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
It seems to me, and this is just my opinion, that we should be focused more on doing and speaking in a way that brings honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and the rest will take care of itself. When we do everything for God’s glory, we walk in peace.
The Corinthian church also had issues with pointing out what they saw as faults in others and condemning them, saying that they were sinning, when to that person, God may not have convicted them for what they were doing. In today’s vernacular, they would be so-called “fruit inspectors.” I think sometimes those fruit inspectors are not so concerned about the spiritual condition of their brother in Christ, but are busybodies, trying to control other’s lives. This does not bring honor to God and causes all kinds of issues within the Body of Christ.
What we do and say reflects on God. As Believers, we are to display His characteristics, so much so that others can see the character of God in us. We are to be Christ-like in everything we do and thereby give God glory, and in that we find peace. As an example, in his commentary on this verse, Alfred Barnes states, “The phrase “the glory of God” is equivalent to the honor of God; and the direction is, that we should so act in all things as to “honor” him as our Lawgiver, our Creator, our Redeemer; and so as to lead others by our example to praise him and to embrace His gospel. A child acts so as to honor a father when he always cherishes reverential and proper thoughts of him; when he is thankful for his favors; when he keeps his laws; when he endeavors to advance his plans and his interests; and when he so acts as to lead all around him to cherish elevated opinions of the character of a father. He “dishonorers” him when he has no respect to his authority; when he breaks his laws; when he leads others to treat him with disrespect.” When we allow our words and actions to be anything but Christ-like, that not only shows dishonor to God, but is reflected to others as disrespect of the God we say we love, and when we dishonor Him, peace in our lives and hearts is hard to find. If we want to walk in peace, then we must live lives that bring honor to God.
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