1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I. CONTRAST THIS PRINCIPLE WITH WHAT NATURALLY INHABITS OUR OWN BOSOMS, and we shall then be fully convinced that this text must have God for its Author. Believe me when I tell you that we are all, in every thought, and word, and action, engaged in undeifying God and deifying ourselves. I do not mean to say that there are not many amiabilities in members of civil society which ought to endear them to us; but, mark me! you will find the loveliest of these amiabilities in the brute creation. I refer you to the ingenuity and love with which the parent brute defends its young. It does everything it could possibly do, even if possessed of the reasoning powers of man. We hear a great deal of human friendship: human friendship, without the grace of God, I boldly assert, is inferior to the friendship of a dog. There is a something awfully defective in the best works of man — in all his loveliest emotions. "God is not in all his thoughts," he is a withered branch separated from the parent tree. II. I WOULD ASSIGN THE MOST SATISFACTORY REASONS WHY GOD SHOULD BE GLORIFIED IN ALL OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND ACTIONS. 1. God glorifies Himself in calling all things into existence. Saints and angels are triumphing in this truth in heaven, and ever will triumph in it. 2. For the same reason He preserves everything in existence, namely, to glorify Himself. 3. It is for His own glory that He governs all things; and we should bear this in mind while courting at His hands the sublimest principles of action. 4. God glorifies Himself in His mercy infinitely more than in anything else. 5. He glorifies Himself in His vengeance. 6. The obedience of all innocent beings is fully influenced by this principle, or rather they have this end fully in view, the glory of God in all things. III. HOW GOD TEACHES MAN THIS SUBLIMEST PRINCIPLE OF ACTION? 1. By convincing him of sin in its evil and desert — in its evil, as being committed against God — in its desert, as meriting nothing less than His eternal wrath and condemnation. 2. By revealing His Son in the heart of man. 3. By conferring a new disposition upon man — a disposition that involves the glory of God in all His beauty and perfections. (W. Howels.) 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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