1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I. WHAT IS IT TO GLORIFY GOD? We glorify God — 1. By seeking to know Him, because thus we arrive at a better comprehension of His excellence. 2. By constantly acknowledging Him, because we thus declare in the strongest terms how worthy He is of our admiration and regard. 3. By loving Him, because we thus acknowledge His superiority to every earthly object. 4. By serving Him, because we thus testify that His service is perfect freedom. 5. By delighting in Him, because we thus show that He is greater, and better, and more desirable than all things. II. THUS TO GLORIFY GOD IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN. This I proceed to prove. The design of the Creator in making all things was to exhibit to intelligent beings His own glory. It is absurd to suppose that any created thing could have been made for itself alone. We know not at what period creation commenced; but before that took place God was as happy as when creation appeared. And how? — in the contemplation of His own excellences. But then these excellences could not have been seen if intelligent creatures had not been made. Such a manifestation of His glory was the end for which we were formed. Man therefore is bound by the original law of his creation, in whatsoever he does, to "do all to the glory of God." When God first created man, this was his high office, to be a high-priest, to offer up sacrifices of praise to God continually. When man sinned, he lost sight of this great object; he no longer sought the Divine glory, but began to live to himself. III. FROM THIS GENERAL STATEMENT WE MAY DERIVE SOME REFLECTIONS. 1. Doctrinal. We are taught by this subject — (1) To take a most affecting view of the nature of sin. Sin is nothing less than robbing God of His glory. (2) The only principle laid down in Scripture as constituting evangelical virtue. "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God": this is the only motive which the gospel recognises and of which God will approve. 2. Practical. Regard this as a motive to vigilance and industry; for this demands the exertion of your whole powers of soul and body. Mark how this rule applies alike to all your employments, and to all your relaxations — will they glorify God? If not, they ought not to be engaged in. (J. F. Denham, A.M.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.WEB: Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. |
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