Glory to God
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Believers are to live their life bringing praise and glory to God, seeking the good of others, and spreading the gospel.
Introduction
We are free from sin and death. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ have insured these freedoms for those who have put their trust and faith in Him. We are free to live life the way God intended. Believers have been freed from the "law" to live a grace based life. 1 Corinthians 10:23 says,
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.
We live in a nation of liberty. The Statue of Liberty in New York is a symbol of that freedom. However, we have become a nation filled with irresponsible people. It’s always someone else’s fault. Just look at some of the lawsuits lately.
It is often forgotten that with great liberty comes great responsibility. The freedom we receive in Jesus never gives us an excuse to be irresponsible and sin. Paul states, "God forbid!" Believers are "free indeed" in Christ but their freedom must always be balanced by their responsibility to God and others.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1. Praise and Glory to God
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God
Believer’s Life Purpose #1: bring praise, honor, and glory to God.
What is the motivation, the reason, we live like we do? The over-riding purpose for everything we do is to bring praise, honor, and glory to God. Remember, sin does not glorify God in any way. Our decision-making process is not a matter of emotion, whim, or want. Our decision making process starts with bringing glory to God.
How can we bring honor and glory to God? We bring glory to God by worshipping Him. We gather for worship to give Him the praise for who He is. We give all of who we are and what we have to Him. We give ourselves to Him because we love and trust Him. The first part of the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:37-38 says,
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
We bring glory to God when we praise and thank Him throughout the day. All good comes from God. He is the source of every blessing in the believer’s life. We thank him for our food, drink, shelter, clothing, family, community, and yes, even the job we have early Monday morning.
We also bring glory to God by giving and doing our very best in everything. When we went to seminary my wife supported us. She found a job in the insurance industry one summer. The word around the area was that seminary students and their wives did great work. Employers hired them if there was an opening. Why, they worked as if working for the Lord.
We bring glory and honor to God ultimately by obeying His commands. Believer’s walk and talk the Bible. We have been freed to live for Him. We demonstrate our love by simply doing what He says.
2. Seek the Good of Others
Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everybody in every way.
Believer’s Purpose #2: Seek the good of others.
Paul was speaking to believers in the church. He was revealing the motivation behind his every decision in life. How you live, what you eat and drink, what you say and do, all of your action ought to bring glory to God and good to others.
Do not be a stumbling block to anyone. Our actions and words have an effect on those around us. How we behave can help or hurt others. Paul understood this simple truth.
We need to be on guard constantly. Our character must be kept intact. What we say, we do. Steer away from the smallest of sin. Be of good report and standing not only in public but privately as well. Be a person of integrity.
We don’t want to give someone offense, trip them up, cause them to stumble or turn away from the Lord or His gospel. We are to be the reason people come to the Lord not turn away from Him. We are to be an example of love, not hostility, to others so that they might receive the gospel openly.
How do we do this in the body of believers? One way is to be a servant to those around you. Jesus stated that He did not come to be served but to serve. A servant puts the best of others before their own. We put others interests ahead of our own in love.
We also encourage one another. Our goal is to build others up so that they will lead strong and faith-filled lives. Encouragement is one of the main reasons we gather together as the church.
We are to love and others. The second Great Command is in Matthew 22:39-40.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
If we truly love someone we will seek their good. We will put aside our selfishness and pride and encourage them to grow and become strong. Why would we do this? We love and care for others and desire all to come to the Lord in repentance and faith.
3. Spread the Gospel
Believer’s Purpose 3: The salvation of others
We have great freedom as believers bought by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We are under grace not law. However with great freedom comes great responsibility.
For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
Paul did not and would not compromise or violate any of his beliefs to please anyone. He stood firm concerning the gospel. He knew what he believed. He rebuked Peter when he wavered on what constituted a believer (Galatians 2:11-13).
He preached the gospel even though it cost him beatings, a life in jail, and possible death sentence in Rome before Caesar. Paul stood up under great persecution. Why, because he desired more than anything that others might be saved. That’s why he was in prison chained to guards, why he was beaten to near death, and why he was eventually put to death. He spread the gospel where ever he went to anyone he was near.
Paul looked for anyway to relate the gospel to others. He never compromised the gospel but he delivered the gospel to others in a way they understood. He could bring the gospel to others in a way they could understand. Even a statue to an unknown god was used to proclaim the gospel to a city of unbelievers. (Acts 17:16-34)
Paul knew the commission that Jesus gave His disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 says,
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Paul was safe in telling others to follow his example because he followed the example given by Jesus Christ. Why are you here and what does the Lord want you to do? First, turn away from sin and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ His Son. Then, glorify God in everything you do, seek the good of others, and share Jesus with everyone.
