1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I. THE SCRIPTURES AND COMMON SENSE TEACH THAT THE GLORY OF GOD IS THE ONLY PROPER END AND RULE OF ALL THINGS. For this they were created. By the glory of God is meant His Divine perfection, His essential and infinite excellence, which renders Him the object of admiration and adoration. To act for the glory of God is to act so that His glory is manifested, acknowledged, and admired. The text is therefore an exhortation — 1. To make that end the highest commanding end of our actions. (1) Some make their end — (a) Their own happiness. (b) Their country. (c) Their kind. (d) All beings. (2) These are false ends. Their selection vitiates religion because it makes something besides God the motive and the end of action — i.e., it substitutes for religion something that is not religion. 2. To make that the rule of our actions. When anything is to be done or left undone — (1) The rule is not — (a) Whether it will be agreeable or disagreeable to ourselves, or to others, i.e., popular. (b) Nor whether it will be expedient or inexpedient. (2) But whether it will tend to make men admire and worship God or not. II. THIS IS A RULE WHICH APPLIES TO EVERY-THING, GREAT AND SMALL. 1. To the choice of a profession. 2. In determining where we are to labour. 3. In deciding on the distribution and occupation of our time. 4. In determining our outward conduct towards others, our conformity to the world. 5. In deciding on the thoughts, feelings, and purposes which we shall cherish. 6. In the way we bear reproach, neglect, sickness, etc. In short, it is a simple comprehensive universal rule. III. THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD ADOPT IT. 1. God's glory is the highest end. 2. God Himself has made it the end of creation, providence, and redemption. 3. Christ made it His end. 4. All saints and angels do the same. 5. It is essential to the order and happiness of the universe. What would result if, instead of making the sun the centre of our system, some little satellite should set up, or be set up, as such? 6. The making of any other end our object is the sum and essence of idolatry. 7. It brings the whole life into perfect harmony, inward and outward. It promotes holiness, happiness, and usefulness. 8. It is the end which we must promote, either by our salvation or perdition. (C. Hodge, D.D.) 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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