To God Be the Glory

 

 

  1. The TEXT
    1. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor 10:31).
    2. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
    3. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
  2. The CONTEXT
    1. The Corinthians had a common situation of facing meat offered to idols (I Corinthians 10:14-33).
      1. Since idols are nothing, Paul didn’t forbid eating meat offered to them (8:1-6; 10:25,27).
      2. However, if an issue of conscience arose about the idols, there were not to eat (10:28).
      3. Our contextual key twice is “For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof (10:26,28).
    2. The Colossians were exhorted on both sides of their practical relationships (Colossians 3:17-25).
      1. The context here is not of matters of liberty or conscience but rather of Spirit-filled saints.
      2. We have here the rather mundane, natural, ordinary, and functional relationships of life.
      3. These should be observed with God’s glory and the praise of Jesus Christ as the great end.
  3. The OBJECT
    1. He will not give His glory to another or to graven images; He wants it all (Is 42:8: I Cor 1:30-31).
    2. He hath made all things for Himself and for His own pleasure (Rev 4:11). So let us please Him!
    3. We can no longer live unto ourselves (II Cor 5:15), for we are bought with a price (I Cor 6:20).
  4.  The INTENT
    1. To fulfill the purpose of our creation and salvation by active service and praise to God (Prov 16:4).
    2. To confirm to all in the world the truth that the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof. Amen!
    3. To magnify the Lord Jesus by bearing up under adverse circumstances with thanksgiving to God.
    4. To live our lives heartily – with love in our hearts for Christ rather than men – to so win Christ.
    5. To lay hold of our reward of an eternal inheritance secured by the Lord Christ (I Timothy 6:19).
  5. The APPLICATION
    1. We face no meat offered to idols in the grocery, but we have infinite opportunities to glorify God.
    2. If we do not manifest our knowledge of God’s glory are we not similar to pagans (Rom 1:21-23)?
    3. All of life is either done to the glory of God by faith or is sin (Pro 21:4,27; Rom 14:23; Heb 11:6).
    4. Let us begin with that simple matter of public prayer before meals to glorify God (Acts 27:35).
    5. Consider how godly public greetings between believers glorify God (Ruth 2:4; Psalm 40:16).
    6. Our public and private worship of God should be done with our might as David (II Sam 6:14,21).
    7. When you have sinned against God or against man, glorify God by full repentance (Josh 7:19-20).
    8. All wifely duties should be done to the glory of God from the heart (Col 3:18; Eph 5:22; Tit 2:5).
    9. All employment duties should be done the same way (Col 3:22-23; Eph 6:5-7; I Peter 2:18-21).
    10. Clearly we must assume the same exhortation to husbands, fathers, and children (Col 3:19-21).
    11. We should honor our civil authorities at any level to glorify God (Romans 13:1-7; I Pet 2:11-17).
    12. We glorify God with our giving (Prov 3:9-10), and we glorify Him by using our gifts (I Pet 4:11).
    13. We glorify Him with love increasing in knowledge (Phil 1:9-11) and no fear (Hebrews 13:6).
    14. For true believers even dying is to be done unto the Lord for His glory (Romans 14:6-9).
    15. Full-time Christian service is not generally a “ministry” but rather our ordinary duties (Col 3:24).