Our Daily Aim

 

Our Daily Aim

1 Corinthians 10:31

Not only does God seek our worship, but our primary motivation should be to secure His glory.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). We are directly instructed to align every action—even mundane tasks like eating—with honoring God. First Corinthians 10:31 emphasizes that is not just about food, but a lifestyle of seeking God's purpose in daily choices. 

Here are several particulars we must be mindful of:

1. Situation: Paul was addressing whether Christians should eat meat sacrificed to idols. He advised that while they had freedom in Christ, that freedom should not cause others to stumble into sin, but rather be used to build up the church. So, many things are permissible, but they should be done out of love and to honor God rather than triggering faltering in others.
2. "Whatsoever ye do": This covers all aspects of life, including social, private, and religious, serving as a comprehensive rule for Christian conduct. Doing things for God's glory means acting in a way that points to His character and goodness, living as "trophies" of His grace. 
3. Goal: To "do all to the glory of God" is acting in a way that pleases Him, recognizing Him as the giver, and using our resources to serve Him. To glorify God is to admire His characteristics, praise His works, trust His name, and obey His Word. For starters He is holy, faithful, merciful, gracious, loving, majestic, sovereign, powerful, and omniscient to mention a few. His works are wonderful, wise, marvelous, and fearfully complex. The goal is to turn ordinary, everyday activities (like eating, working, or leisure) into acts of worship and service.
4. The Ultimate Test: We must avoid selfish or destructive behaviors (like gluttony or harming our health), living obediently, and ensuring that all actions (work, speech, and interactions) reflect Christ. Accordingly, using this standard for behavior—if any action cannot be done for God’s glory (with thanksgiving, obedience, and love), it must be avoided.

So, every action in a Christian’s life, from mundane tasks to major decisions, should be done with the intention of honoring, praising, and reflecting God. We have a guide for daily living, urging us to align our motives with God's will. In essence, 1 Corinthians 10:31 turns life into a continuous act of devotion, encouraging believers to move beyond mere religious rituals and live in a manner that constantly honors God.