at
the Tabernacle, Moorfields
Modernized
by Cliff Collins
“Therefore,
whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor 10:31)
From this
Scripture, I propose to show:
I. That the character of God has infinite
value.
II. What it means to live to do all for the
glory of God.
III. Some examples of this rule.
IV. Examine some things in the life of Jesus in
the light of this rule
I. First of all, the character of God has infinite
value.
Because God is a moral
agent, He must have a conscience, and it is infinitely important to Him that He
should meet the demands of His conscience.
His character and conduct should be in all respects what his conscience
tells Him it ought to be. Of course, it
is infinitely important that He should meet the demands of His conscience,
because his own Happiness depends on His approval of His own conduct and
character. Just think. Suppose God did not respect and approve of
His own conduct and character! Suppose
God violated His own conscience. Not
that it ever will ever happen, but suppose that it did happen. Of course, God’s happiness would be
destroyed. He would not glorify Himself,
nor honor Himself in his own estimation.
Don’t forget that His character is infinitely important. Now, we all know the importance of
self-respect. When we forfeit our own
self-respect, we become wretched. When
we have our own consciences against us, we must become miserable.
People are well aware
that their own character is very important to them. They find it impossible to be at peace when they sin; when they
are living in such a manner that their own consciences won’t approve of
them. Now, it is not too much to say
that it is infinitely important for God to honor Himself in His own estimation,
to meet the demands of His judgment in respect to what is best and right, and
to satisfy the demands of His own infinite reason and conscience. Then again, God’s character as Governor of
the universe is infinitely important.
Suppose that God's character were to suffer in the eyes of the
universe? The stability of His
government depends on the confidence that His subjects have in His moral
government. The well-being and safety
of the universe depends on the confidence that His created beings have in His
sovereignty. Let them loose their confidence
in His character and what would happen?
Of course, His government would fall apart and ruin the universe. Indeed, confidence in God is the great hinge
on which all obedience turns. Destroy
confidence in God, and you destroy the happiness of the entire universe. Confidence in God, therefore, is just as important
as the happiness of the universe.
II. Next, I will show
what is intended by living to the glory of God.
The term “glory”, as it
is here used, means “renown, reputation”.
To do everything to the glory of God, is to have the glory of God in
view in everything we do. Whether we
eat or drink or whatsoever we do, it is to be done for the glory of God. We live to secure the universal respect and
confidence of His subjects. We do those
things that will set His character in the strongest and most attractive light,
and lead men to thoroughly understand and appreciate His character. Thus, we try to win for God the confidence
and the hearts of all of His subjects.
In other words, our hearts desire is to win souls. We endeavor in all our ways to win souls to
God, to win souls to Christ, by showing forth the character of Christ in our
example, tempers, spirit, and in everything we do. It is to be our chief aim to set forth His will, His law, and His
whole government as perfect, and to make it so lovely and desirable as to draw
the hearts of men back to God, to confide in Him, love and obey Him. I repeat, that whatever we do to glorify God
must have this great end in view in all our ways, to make ourselves living
mirrors reflecting the image of God.
Suppose a man should come
from America to England, and professes to be a devoted friend of the American
government, but he totally misrepresents the American government in everything
he does. If instead of representing the
true spirit of the government, the true Republican spirit, he acts like a
tyrant. Every aspect of his spirit and
character is contrary to the real spirit of the American Government, and he
never does anything that truly represents it.
What should we say about him?
Now, suppose an individual professes to be a disciple of Christ. He professes to love and obey God’s government,
and claims to respect and revere God’s character, and yet he misrepresents the
character of God in everything he does.
That in his spirit and temper, and in his general behavior, he holds
forth a false light, and creates a false impression of what the character and
government of God is really like. What
would you say of such so-called “Christians”?
Now, suppose a citizen of this country goes to Iran or Afghanistan, or
any other country of the world, with the avowed object of recommending to them
a form of government that he believes would secure their well being, if they
will accept it. Now, suppose that he
claims that he truly admires the British Government, but in everything he does,
he misrepresents it. What would be the
result?
Would not the people in
that country think that any governmental constitution was better than what is
displayed by that idiot? But, suppose
that individual was really sincere and benevolent, suppose that he really felt
and believed that the British constitution would greatly improve their
well-being. Of course, he would, by his
conduct, endeavor to recommend the government.
He would try to show, in his own life, what kind of a person such a
government could produce. His aim would
be to recommend the government to the people in everything he did. He would always have this in view. In everything that he either did or said; in
all his ways, and by all his actions, he would seek to recommend the government
of his country to induce those among whom he sojourned to adopt it. Now apply this to the government of
God. Suppose that those who profess to
be the subjects of God's government demonstrate everything else but the true
spirit of God’s government? For
example, suppose, that instead of showing that they are universally benevolent,
and thus demonstrate the law of God in its true spirit, they manifest a selfish
spirit. Who does not see that such
people would greatly and grievously misrepresent the true spirit and nature of
the character of God's government? But
suppose in everything an individual makes his whole life a mirror that reflects
the pure character of God, the self-denial of Christ, the love of the Father,
the purity and excellency of His law, and the perfection of His Government. Thus, he secures the glory of God, by living
a life of universal peace and holiness.
I must move on to my next topic, and since I am so exceedingly hoarse, I
must be very brief. Perhaps I shall not
make myself understood. I will try, and
you may expect nothing more of me.
III. SOME ILLUSTRATIONS
OF THIS RULE.
Do you realize that we
have here a simple and plain rule of life, by which we are able to judge correctly
what is and what is not our duty? The
Bible always lays down great and broad principles. Instead of giving in and specifying every form of duty, it lays
down great principles to be followed out in practice. These principles are sometimes expressed in one form and
sometimes in another; but the result is always the same. For example, the same principle is involved
in the command, “You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind”,
(Matt 22:37) that we have in the text, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God”. (I Cor 10:31) My purpose tonight is to set before those
who profess to be converts, in as simple and as clear a manner as I can, a rule
that they should always remember. This
rule will be able to help you judge easily and correctly everything that you
do, and whether any course of action is inconsistent, or not, with the
Christian religion. If you are a
Christian, you desire in all your ways to honor God. Of course, you want to awaken souls and bring them to Christ, to
magnify His law, and to secure for Him the universal confidence of all moral
agents everywhere.
Now, the life and conduct
of Christ was a simple illustration of this rule. Whatever He did, He had this one great end in view. His aim, He said, was not to seek His own
glory, but the honor and glory of God who is the governor of the universe. The aim of Christ was to honor the Father as
the lawgiver and governor in such a way that it would encourage men to know Him
and to properly understand and appreciate His government. In all His ways, Christ manifested a deep
desire to manifest in His spirit, temper, and in His whole life, the true
character of God. I am speaking of
Christ not just as a man, but a man endowed with a divine nature. Now, listen! His goal was to thoroughly honor God in all things, by fairly,
fully, and thoroughly representing and reflecting God in His own life and
preaching, so that He might manifest the character of God before the world, in
order that He might convince people to admire, imitate, and give themselves up
to love and serve God. And let me say,
the same was also true of the Apostles.
They caught the same spirit, and they labored for the same great end. Their goal was not to glorify themselves,
but to honor God, to glorify Him, and to spread His glory and His praise, to
make His name known throughout the land, and to obtain for Him the confidence
of all men.
But let me say again:
That same rule we saw shine most beautifully in the early saints and martyrs,
applies today to all ministers, lay men and women, and every person in every
rank of life. The disposition of all
Christians should be to commend God's government and character to the
world. In everything they do to set
forth the religion of Jesus Christ, the religion of the Bible, and to exhibit
it before the world in such a way that men, seeing their good works, will be
constrained to glorify God. Christ
said, “You are the light of the world”;
“You are the salt of the earth”.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.”
(Matt 5:13-16) You claim to be
subjects of God's government, the disciples of Jesus. Then in all your conduct, manifest His spirit. Let your light shine to cause God to be
glorified. Represent religion. Do not falsify the character of God and the
benevolence of His government. Paul
said, “For me to live is Christ”. (Phil
1:21) Do you live so you can say this?
Let your goal in living
among men be to seek to display Christ in everything you do; to represent
Christ among men as if there was a new edition of Jesus living in you; as if
Christ was again appearing among men; showing Himself through your temper,
spirit, and your whole life. Don’t
forget that this rule has universal application. It is binding on all Christians in all places and at all
times. You are to glorify God during
the week as well as on Sunday, in your business as well as in your
prayers. If you fail to glorify God in
your business transactions, you will dishonor him in your prayers. At the communion-table, at prayer meetings,
at Sunday services, everything you do at any or all of these places dishonors
Christ, if in your daily life, or in your dealings with worldly men you are
doing nothing to honor Christ! I say
that on all the days of the week as well as on Sunday you are to honor
God. Honor God in your business as much
as in your prayers. You ought to honor
God just as much when you sit down to a meal as you do at the Lord's
Table. Yes, the Lord's Supper is to
commemorate the Lord's death, but whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
you are to do everything to the glory of God.
You are to show that you are not “a man given to appetite,” in such
sense that you live to eat instead of eat to live in order that you may do the
work of God.
But, I cannot expand this
principle that you see so clearly brought out in the text. All this means that we should always, in the
things we do and the way we live, be devoted to God. Everything that we do is to be service rendered to God. Now, suppose, that you are living by this
rule, that you really intend to live to God, of course you will seek to glorify
Him in your eating and drinking, you will not eat food merely to gratify your
own appetite, but that you may have strength to glorify God. Of course this will affect the amount and
the things you eat. Of course, you will
not make “provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof”; but your
appetite will be subservient to God.
You will have His glory in view, and not merely your own personal gratification,
in eating and drinking. So, in
everything else, you will show to the world that you have a higher end in view
than merely your own personal gratification, and that you are living to honor
and glorify God.
IV. Finally, I will
examine some things in the life of Jesus in the light of this rule.
Let me first say that
something can be done for the glory of God is not enough. The question is; is it really done to
glorify God? Now, you may do many
things, beloved, that might be very reasonably done for the glory of God that
are not. For example, several years
ago, I was laboring in a town in America during a revival, where there lived a
unique woman, who contended that it was O.K. for Christians to go to nightclubs
and dance. She defended this position
very strongly. She referred to the fact
that “David danced before the Lord with all his might”. (II Sam 6:14) Now, David did it as a religious service or expression. Therefore, I asked her, “Do you actually dance
as a religious service? Do you do it to
glorify God? Do you mean it as an act
of worship? Do you mean it, as David
meant it, to honor God and show his holy joy and holy zeal when the ark of God
was coming into the city? Now, do you
do it for that reason? Do you recommend
it as a part of your service to God? If you do, why then say so; but, if you
don't mean to recommend it as a religious service, what do you mean that there
is nothing wrong with it?” Now, the
fact is, things may be done to glorify God, that in fact are not always done to
glorify God. I can picture someone
being so full of holy joy that they dance to glorify God just like David did;
but this would not prove that all dancing is performed for the same end, nor
will it prove that all dancing is right.
I mention dancing rather than anything else, simply because the fact
that I have related simply popped into my mind. Let me repeat. It is not
enough that something can be done to glorify God, but it must be done to
glorify God. Men must glorify God in
everything that they do, or they do not obey Him.
Secondly, we cannot aim
to glorify God by any means that discredits God. For example, suppose a pirate ship was hired to get money for the
Bible Society? Suppose this vessel went
out into the open seas with the black flag and cross-bones, making war on all
the ships that passed by, destroying their crews and stealing their shipments
to get money for the Bible Society. Who
does not see that this would shock the common sense of mankind, who naturally
know that such a thing could not be done for the glory of God? Such a thing would be repugnant to the
feelings and hearts of all men, and everybody would see that the very pretence
was a gross absurdity. Suppose a slave
ship should be fitted out to go down to the coast of Africa for slaves, that
they might be taken to the West Indies or to the southern part of the United
States, under the pretence of getting money for the Missionary Society. The convictions of all moral agents would be
that this was sheer blasphemy!
There are things, then,
that cannot be done to glorify God.
That moral agents everywhere agree that it can’t be done to glorify
Him. It is a remarkable fact that
because moral agents have certain fundamental affirmations they will agree that
certain things are true. I have just
mentioned two, the slave ship, and the pirate ship pretending to be engaged in
religious pursuits. On such matters,
reason is out of place. It is a
necessary universal conviction that murder and robbery cannot be perpetrated to
glorify God. There are many other
things in the same category. Suppose,
for example, that anything which is harmful to society should be supported if
it claims to have a religious purpose, that we can clearly see that it tends to
ruin the bodies and souls of men, but it is supported for the sake of doing
good, and bringing glory to God. Now,
who does not see that it is hypocrisy to even pretend that anything like this
is true? Could any person bring himself
to believe that he was glorifying God, for example, by engaging in any branch
of business that is clearly designed to harm both the bodies and souls of
men? Suppose an individual should keep
a house of prostitution under pretence that all the profits would be given to
the Church! Who would not say that such
pretence was most blasphemous?
But let me say, there are
many things that misrepresent the benevolence of God, that are done on the
pretence of honoring God! Now, this is
a downright shame! Now, let me ask, can
anybody pretend to represent the benevolence of God by any of the things that I
have named? No indeed! Again, take many of the ways of making money
today, by speculating on land, by buying and selling stocks and by shady
business deals. Money is made by this
means, and sometimes under the pretence that part of it will be given to the
glory of God! Away with such
money! Away with such pretensions! Who does not know that it is an abomination
in the sight of God? Is it not
revolting to every feeling of humanity to think that men will beat their slaves
to make them earn that which they pretend to devote to pious purposes; that
that which is earned by the sweat and blood of men is to be paid into the treasury
of the Lord? Away with it, it is an
abomination unto the Lord! But let me
say again; you should never do anything that Christ would not have done.
Now, there are certain
things, for example, that by a law of our own being we know that Christ would
not do. There is a sure guiding
principle that lies deep in the mind of man that affirms things in which men
will agree. For instance, every moral
agent will affirm that Christ would not become a pirate. Who believes that He
would? He would not give Himself up to
pursue any kind of business that would ruin the bodies or souls of men! Who believes that He would? Do you suppose that for the sake of getting
money to spread the gospel, He would resort to some of the means that are
resorted to these days? Now, let me say
that the Lord does not want people to get money for Him by grinding the faces
of the poor. That a man for the sake of
selling his goods cheap, and to get money for the cause of God, should screw
down his employees, and give them a pittance that will hardly keep their bodies
and souls together! Do you think Christ
would do that? Would He shave and cut
down the honest earnings of a poor woman for the sake of getting money to
spread the gospel? No indeed! God is not so poor that he cannot get money
without your serving the devil in that way!
I am so very hoarse
tonight, for I intended to take up this question of trade fully, and put the
knife of truth into it, but I can’t.
But let me say that very often people hold fairs, parties, bazaars, and
even bingo nights for the sake of getting money for God, as they say. Some years ago, while laboring in a certain
place in America, the Unitarians got up a ball of this kind that was to last
for two days. Each gentleman paid two pounds to attend the ball, the proceeds
of which were to be given to the poor.
In fact, it was to supply them with fuel, for it was very cold
weather. Now many people, who generally
professed to dislike such things, went to this ball because it was “a charity
ball!” Now, why, if they were benevolent,
could they not simply give the two pounds to the poor? Why go to feast and ball, serve the devil
for two days, and then give whatever is left over to the poor? Didn’t they simply use the charity to
justify their ball?” Yes, and nothing
else! Some of the Orthodox people, who did
not like balls, and would not go as far as that, held some parties, “charity
parties” as they called them. There
they got together and had a wonderful time.
They had everything that was rich and nice and then concluded with
prayer! Why conclude with prayers? Because they got the ministers in to
sanction and share in their proceedings!
Then, the residue of the proceeds of these parties was given to the
poor! Do you think Christ would have
sponsored these things? Young convert,
how does it strike you? Was that
benevolence? What do you think of
having a night of merriment, and calling it “a charity party”, laughing,
talking, drinking, carrying on, and then sanctifying the whole thing with
prayer? Well, now, I might mention many
things that are done under the pretence of benevolence. Some of you, perhaps, may have been drawn
into some of these things. I have known
theatres to hold “benefits” for the poor, and have thus drawn in professing
Christians who did not object to go because it was “a benefit for the
poor”. Why not just give your money
directly to the poor? Why run to the
theater? Oh, what a clever deceptive
strategy this is! I trust you will have
your eyes open in the future. Ask
yourselves when you are requested or tempted to do anything, “would Jesus
Christ do that?”
There are many
individuals who dedicate themselves to get money by making great bargains off
of their fellow men under the pretence that they are going to get rich in order
to give money to the cause of God. Now,
it is clearly wrong for a man to cheat his fellow men in order to make a great
bargain, and thus be able to give something to God. Such a man says to God, “Oh God, I have cheated this man out of a
goodly sum of money, and now I will give part of it to You”. Now, is this one of the ways in which a man
can honestly glorify God? No way! God does not require that a man should be unjust
to his fellow men, in order to give money to advance His cause on earth. I am not speaking of those people who are
engaged in lawful business transactions; but of those who drive hard bargains,
professedly for the glory of God. There
is a problem here. They really don’t do
it for the glory of God. The very
nature of man cannot agree with this.
To wrong a neighbor in order to give to God cannot possibly please
God. God loves all men; there is an
important sense in which all men are his children, and God will not see
injustice done even to the wickedest of men.
You have no right to act unjustly to a wicked man. No indeed!
God will not agree to it.
But, again: let me relate
a fact that will illustrate what I mean.
About the year 1831, an individual possessing large property claimed
that he was converted; and he said that he had resolved to give up all his
property to God, for His glory and the advancement of His religion. He had no family, and therefore did not want
the money. He spent several years in
looking around to see what organization he should give it to, but he could see
no object worthy of it. He always saw
something in every society that, he said, conscientiously prevented him from
parting with his money. His property in
the meantime went on accumulating. As
time went on, he began to speculate in provisions, and he traveled to the great
thoroughfare of the West and bought up everything that he could in the shape of
provisions in order that he might sell them out again at an extravagant
price. But it so happened that he could
not buy enough to carry out his plan.
He did not possess enough provisions to control the market, and therefore
he lost everything he had.
He came to my house soon
after, and as soon as I saw that he looked very sad I asked him why. “Why?” he responded, “all my money is
gone.”
“I’m glad,” I said,
“because you never intended to give it to God.” I felt sure of this, although he had told me what he intended to
do with the money if his business venture succeeded. “You wanted,” I continued, “to make the poor man sweat and toil
to pay an extravagant price for his food, and you tell me that the reason you
had for doing this was that you might serve God with your money! You gave yourself to speculate for God, did
you? I don't believe you thought
so. You were selfish in it.” You can guess how the conversation affected
him. “Now,” I said to him, “I can't
believe this. It is not in human nature
to believe it. It is contrary to the
laws of moral agents. Neither will God
accept money acquired under such circumstances.”
Let this illustrate what
I mean, beloved; never think, then, that you can glorify God in engaging in anything
that Christ would not engage in. Ask
yourselves, would Christ do that? Would
I be shocked to see Him do it? If you
would be shocked to see Him do it, if you would be stunned and confounded to
see Him do it, then don't do it yourselves.
If I had the time and strength, I’d love to draw your attention to so
many things that people do, where they claim they are doing religiously, but
which cannot be done religiously; but I can’t.
I must now conclude with
a few remarks. Would Jesus do
that? First, nothing short of living in
conformity with this rule is true religion.
That is, when you don’t live with this in your view, you don’t have a
single eye; even if you have been converted, you are not a child of God unless
you are living according to this rule.
If you do not glorify God in everything you do, you have fallen into
sin.
Again: This is always a
good rule for young converts especially, when any question comes before your
mind, and you are unable to decide what you should to do, just ask yourself
this question; Would Christ do this?
Would Christ attend that party?
Would an apostle allow himself to be there? Can I do anything for Christ there? Can I speak a word for Christ, or will it be considered entirely
out of place to talk about religion; or if I should manifest a Christian spirit
there, would it not be considered out of place? Would it shock the company that I should pretend to have any
religion? If so, it is obviously not
the place for religious people, a place where Christ is not, and religion is an
intrusion.
But again: Many people
will sometimes go to such places, but to save their characters they will introduce
religion in one way or another, but all it does is offend the gospel. They will introduce Christ just to save
their characters, but only to be rejected and despised.
Again: Never go into any
company without seeking to glorify Christ, and where you do not go for some
other reason. Jesus, you know, went to
dine with the Pharisees, but it was with a view to rebuke and instruct, or to
correct their religious errors. Again: Do not fall into this mistake. Do not go for some other reason, and finally
cover your retreat by sanctifying it with prayer and reading some
Scriptures. Now, people will sometimes
go to places where they don't expect to do any good; they don't go to glorify
God, but after they have had their pleasures and feastings, they will cover
their retreat with prayer. Now,
beloved, always remember to do whatever you do to honor God.
But let me say again:
This is one of the most simple and natural rules of life for men whose hearts
are right with God. When the heart is
in a right state, it is as natural as breathing, to refer to Christ in everything
that you do. Again: If men would regard
this rule, their business transactions would not be a snare to them. Business was not designed to be a snare to
any man; and if men will transact business for God, they will be as religious
in their business as they are on Sunday.
Observe, you may be as truly spiritually minded behind your counters as
in your closets. Spiritual-mindedness
is devoting everything to God, turning everything over to Him, and living for
His honor and glory. Now men ought to
be just as spiritually minded in their business as in their prayers; and if
they are not in their business, they are not in their prayers. Think about that! If you are not devoted to God during the week, you are not on
Sunday, and you deceive yourself if you think you are. You cannot serve yourself in the week and
God on Sunday. Not you! The fact is, you will have the same end in
view on Sunday as you have during the week.
If you are selfish all week long, you will be selfish Sunday. If you are not religious in your business,
you will not be religious in anything.
This is a fact.
For what end are you
doing business? What object do you have
in view? What do you live for? What is your purpose in life? What is your goal? These are all forms of the same question. It should always be understood, then, that
men are in reality no more religious on Sunday than they are during the
week. They are no more religious in
their prayers than they are in their workshops. If they are religious in one, they will be religious in the
other. Let no man think that he honors
God on Sunday if he does not serve God on the other days of the week. It is good to be in the sanctuary on Sunday,
and on all proper occasions. This duty
should not be left undone, and let your devotion to God's house be seen and acknowledged. But, be sure to let the world see in your
business that you are a servant of God; let this be known in everything you do:
in everything you spend, in everything you wear, in everything you possess; you
must be the servant of God in every little thing, or be the servant of God in
nothing.
Now, let me say, it will
not be considered extravagant if I state that there is a very grave error among
most professing Christians in this matter.
There is a great feeling of sanctity on Sunday, with many who have no
piety at home or in their business transactions. See a man in the house of God on the Sabbath who appears very
devout, and you wish to know whether he is really devout, go and do business
with him on the Monday, and you will soon find out what he is really like. Ah, you can say “I have done business with
that man. I could not tell whether he
was a Christian or not when he was in the chapel, but I have seen him in his own
house and in his shop. I have seen that
he is a man of God there. I saw him
dealing with one of his employees, and I have learned it all.” Now listen, he that is unjust in the least
is unjust also in much. That’s Bible
doctrine. If he would cheat you out of
a penny, he would cheat you of a thousand pounds if he could do it without
hurting his business character. A man
that does not regard God's glory in everything, does not regard it in
anything!
Beloved, in my remarks
tonight I simply planed to lay down a great principle of religion, the great
rule of life. I have done this. Now, let me ask, will you consent to live by
this rule? Young convert, do you now
see how you can honor or dishonor religion?
Do you see how much good or how much evil you can do? Do you know how much the character of
religious revivals depends on your living to glorify God in everything! Therefore, live close to God; “whatsoever
you do, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God”. Whatever you think will really honor God, do
that. Whatever, in your solemn judgment
and by the light of the Scriptures and the example of Jesus Christ, you think
will be honorable to God, do that. Do
it for that reason, and the blessing and peace of God shall be with you.
I did not preach on the
Atonement, my text did not lead me. I
did not preach on Baptism, my text did not lead me. I did not preach about Election, my text did not lead me. I preached about living to the glory of
God! And I have been urging you,
beloved, to live to the glory of God.
Will you do it? Perhaps I should
say that I would probably not see many of you until we meet in judgment. I will make no appeal to your feelings
concerning meeting me there; but I would remind you that both you and I will
soon have to meet God! Let us study to
approve ourselves to Him, let men say what they will. Amen