What does it mean to glorify God in everything?

[Quiet Light]

I've been wondering lately what it means to glorify God, as in when scripture says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) I've been struggling with this because I'm not sure what it means specifically. I desire to glorify God, but I'm not sure whether it means, "Think of things that glorify God, and DO them," or "Just DO things, and glorify God IN them." In other words, what is the order, and the meaning? Should you play a sport or eat or drink because it glorifies God? Or should you do those things and glorify God in them?

(If anyone has insight and can help me with my specific problem as well: the reason I ask is because I've been struggling with the question of whether I should go to a forum where there are many unbelievers. I've also been struggling with whether I can listen to classical music or instrumental music, because it's not specifically Christian. I know these things sound trite, but I really want to do the right thing.)

 

[spirit1st]

Eph_6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Col_3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Listen ? when it out of pure Love , then it pleases our LORD !

 

[amadeus2]

Remember Quiet Light that in the beginning God created everything "very good" (Gen 1:31). You ask specific questions about types of music, but no one else's answer is necessarily your answer. If something stands between you and God, be it music of a certain type or something else it must be avoided, but not everyone is attracted by the same things to the same degree. For example, not everyone is an alcoholic. He who is needs to especially avoid alcoholic beverages.

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If you always put God first, you will never go wrong. All of us believers have gone wrong, at times, because we have put something in front of God. Don't look simply for black and white answers to your questions in scripture. In the OT under the law, which God gave to Moses, there were black and white rules, but NO ONE was able to follow them exactly all of the time. Today the "law", God's law, must be in our heart.

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When it is, then the answer we need will be there when we need it.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

For the Holy Ghost to bring something to remembrance, that something must already be in us ready for the Holy Ghost to tap into... This is where reading the Bible daily comes into play. Don't forget also that the Holy Ghost must be in you. The Holy Spirit brings to Life the Word in us when it is needed. If the Word is not in us, don't sell God short. He is merciful. He understands our frailty, but do not tempt God by not doing all that you can do.

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All of us, if can read at all (not illiterate), who are in the United States, should have no problem reading some scripture daily. As to glorifying God simply lift your voice (silently or aloud) to Him in honor and praise. If you don't know how to do that then ask God to help you. He will help you learn to glorify Him.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matt 7:7-8

Really every time you choose God rather some other thing that is attractive to you, you are glorifying Him. Every time you choose to read the Bible rather than fill your time with something else, you glorify God. Every time you choose to pray rather than fill your time with something else, you glorify God. He doesn't expect us to love nothing else beside Him. He doesn't expect us to enjoy nothing else besides Him. He does expect us to put Him first in our life.

 

[james1523]

I've been wondering lately what it means to glorify God, as in when scripture says, "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) I've been struggling with this because I'm not sure what it means specifically. I desire to glorify God, but I'm not sure whether it means, "Think of things that glorify God, and DO them," or "Just DO things, and glorify God IN them." In other words, what is the order, and the meaning? Should you play a sport or eat or drink because it glorifies God? Or should you do those things and glorify God in them?

(If anyone has insight and can help me with my specific problem as well: the reason I ask is because I've been struggling with the question of whether I should go to a forum where there are many unbelievers. I've also been struggling with whether I can listen to classical music or instrumental music, because it's not specifically Christian. I know these things sound trite, but I really want to do the right thing.)

Most of us have cherry picked this verse out and applied it to ourselves, our own conscience and our own personal holiness. But in context the verse is not really about personal holiness, but about not causing offense to others. It is about not offending other's conscience, not your own. The verse in question has "therefore" at the start of it, which means we need to look to the previous verses, 23 to 33. 31[SUB]u[/SUB] Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

It is about all things being lawful, but not all things being profitable (for the sake of others). It is about not doing anything that will cause an offense, a stumbling block to others, so we don't delay or hinder their salvation. Or we don't hinder their progress in knowing Christ.

In this instance.. to express God , to glorify Him, is to not offend another persons's conscience, as it says in vs 29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other."

To not offend another's conscience is to consider the needs of others before ourselves. Considering others before ourselves is the nature of God, and to be like Him is to express Him and glorify Him.

 

[Quiet Light]

...(Shortened for easiness of reading)...

I understand. I've just been struggling with the forum problem because I desire to go to a forum where there are more people, but a lot of the people on that forum are unbelievers. It's been so hard because I want to please God, but I don't know if He would approve of me going into a situation where I can be tempted (?). I also have been having trouble with understanding what the Bible means by the "flesh". I understand that it means the sinful nature, but does it also mean that I can't have fun if my brain wants to play a sport, or play a game, or read a book? I have been crucified of the sinful nature, and I don't want to sin at all. But it's just that I have trouble differentiating between the fleshly sinful nature in comparison to, say, just natural physical body/brain desires. There were gnostics in the bible who believed that the physical body (not just sinful nature, but the entire physical body, brain, skin, hands, etc) were evil. And I sometimes wonder if I'm fighting the desire to give in to believing some of it.... But it can't be true because God allows us to eat when we're hungry, and to do other things our body desires (albeit, in a holy way), but it's like I'm struggling against Satan who's saying "You can't do this, this, this and this because it's too fun, and you're not allowed to do anything that happens to be fun."

It's just...confusing. I'm still a fairly new Christian, so I'm probably just prone to things that more mature Christians would have understood and dealt with by now.

 

[Quiet Light]

Most of us have cherry picked this verse out and applied it to ourselves, our own conscience and our own personal holiness. But in context the verse is not really about personal holiness, but about not causing offense to others. It is about not offending other's conscience, not your own. The verse in question has "therefore" at the start of it, which means we need to look to the previous verses, 23 to 33. 31[SUB]u[/SUB] Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

It is about all things being lawful, but not all things being profitable (for the sake of others). It is about not doing anything that will cause an offense, a stumbling block to others, so we don't delay or hinder their salvation. Or we don't hinder their progress in knowing Christ.

In this instance.. to express God , to glorify Him, is to not offend another persons's conscience, as it says in vs 29 "Conscience," I say, not your own, but that of the other."

To not offend another's conscience is to consider the needs of others before ourselves. Considering others before ourselves is the nature of God, and to be like Him is to express Him and glorify Him.

That's actually very helpful. But, I do also remember the scripture in Romans 12:1 that says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." I'm fighting what seems to be a spirit of legalism. Every time I read that, I think, "Well I have to be careful, because if I give in to the sinful nature, God will be ashamed of me when He comes back and throw me into Hell." I understand that you cannot lose your salvation, and that we are saved by grace through faith, but the way some of the scriptures in the epistles are, it makes me afraid. That's why I don't want to listen to the wrong music, lest I be "conformed to this world." But I also feel like I'm in bondage to "doing" things.

Some Christians I see are so carefree, and I really want to be like them, because they seem to have a peace about them. They can easily do things and it doesn't bother them. But it seems like with me, every time I want to do something, I have to step back and examine myself lest I really be lost. Like I said before, it's like a spirit of bondage.

 

[Chad]

Let's read it in context

1 Corinthians 10:26-33

26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." 27 If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake-- 29 the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33 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.

Critical & Explanatory on the verses

31. Contrast Zechariah 7:6 ; the picture of worldly men. The godly may "eat and drink," and it shall be well with him ( Jeremiah 22:15 Jeremiah 22:16 ).
to the glory of God--( Colossians 3:17 , 1 Peter 4:11 )--which involves our having regard to the edification of our neighbor.

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

There were cases wherein Christians might eat what had been offered to idols, without sin. Such as when the flesh was sold in the market as common food, for the priest to whom it had been given. But a Christian must not merely consider what is lawful, but what is expedient, and to edify others. Christianity by no means forbids the common offices of kindness, or allows uncourteous behaviour to any, however they may differ from us in religious sentiments or practices. But this is not to be understood of religious festivals, partaking in idolatrous worship. According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting. A holy, peaceable, and benevolent spirit, will disarm the greatest enemies.

 

[james1523]

That's actually very helpful. But, I do also remember the scripture in Romans 12:1 that says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." I'm fighting what seems to be a spirit of legalism. Every time I read that, I think, "Well I have to be careful, because if I give in to the sinful nature, God will be ashamed of me when He comes back and throw me into Hell." I understand that you cannot lose your salvation, and that we are saved by grace through faith, but the way some of the scriptures in the epistles are, it makes me afraid. That's why I don't want to listen to the wrong music, lest I be "conformed to this world." But I also feel like I'm in bondage to "doing" things.

Some Christians I see are so carefree, and I really want to be like them, because they seem to have a peace about them. They can easily do things and it doesn't bother them. But it seems like with me, every time I want to do something, I have to step back and examine myself lest I really be lost. Like I said before, it's like a spirit of bondage.

Everyone is like this at the start of their Christian life, and even mature Christians still have these problems from time to time. It's important to seek the Lord earnestly and sincerely every day through prayer and calling His name. Develop a private, personal, intimate and secret relationship with Jesus every day. The more you see who He is to you, the less you will see of yourself. The more you will experience the joy, peace and love that comes from His presence in your life. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit. He already lives inside you but just needs to get into your mind (thoughts), emotions (feelings), and will (intents). Eventually there will be a point of breakthrough where you will feel a heavy load lifted and can see yourself as Christ sees you, accepted by Him and a beloved child. Focussing our thoughts, will, emotions, upon the person of Christ will help. Basically it comes down to turning to the Lord in prayer in every situation, making Him the focus in our daily living.