There is a common Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 10:31, which reads, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This verse is mostly referenced in relation to health issues, but I believe there is more to it. In fact, it is at the centre of the great battle between good and evil. Today I want to share that with you.
If one can eat or drink or do whatever to the glory of God, the opposite is quite the same. I can be eating, drinking, or doing things to the glory of someone else. Humans do lots besides eating and drinking – we work, build, love, learn, dress, sing, talk, and yeah, sometimes we “party”. The question is, who gets the glory at the end of the day?
Here are words from a famous artist, and I want you to analyse them carefully. “I’m going to take your souls. We have the power, we decide what’s hot. If we don’t go, nobody goes. If we don’t support nobody supports, we control what’s cool, we control what’s hot, we control what your kids listen to, what they dance to, we control what’s in video games, we control how they wear their pants, sag their pants, we control everything.”
To do something “to the glory of someone” means doing it in a way that honours, praises, or brings credit to that person. It’s about making actions or decisions with the intention of reflecting well on them, showing respect, and acknowledging their importance.
Here is where most Christians are found wanting because we do not want to self-inspect and ascertain that everything we do is to the glory of God. The idea of being self-conscious of oneself, where you are always thinking, “Am I doing the right thing? Am I right?” can make you feel a bit anxious or like you are under a microscope. Truth be told, we need that balance, or we compromise our faith.
2 Cor 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test? NIV
Christians have a weakness, and that’s conforming to worldly standards. It’s like we are caught between fitting in and standing out. In the book of Revelation, John warns us against adhering to double standards, that this is not the purpose that God has for us, and if we continue this way, he is going to ‘spit us out of his mouth’.
John 17:14:
“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.”
John 15:19?
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
The apostle Paul declares that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Why is it, then, that persecution seems, in a great degree, to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world’s standard, and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion that is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled.—The Great Controversy, p. 48.3
We cannot profess Christ and be loved and tolerated by the world. The bible denies it. If there is no distinction between us and the world, we are the ones at fault. We are the ones who have compromised, and God’s name is disgraced. Brother and sister, it’s time we reflect on the word of God and change for the good lest we be found wanting. May God help us change for the better, and may he give us the spirit of the early church.
Revelation 18:4:
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
This verse discusses separation from a corrupt system or entity. It is warning you and me to distance ourselves from Babylon, symbolizing a corrupt world system. It’s a call to spiritual separation, urging God’s people to avoid sin and judgment.
God bless you. I will see you in the next lesson.
If you liked this article, comment and share it with friends and family.