All For God’s Glory
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Whatever you do . . .
What are you living for? What are you working for? In the interest of what do you base every action? Self-interest? In the interest of getting rich – or well known – or just to make people think well of you.
All well and good, but these are the wrong things to live for. God created you for himself.
Think about that for a moment. God created you for himself. You didn’t create yourself – God did! You didn’t originate the universe – God did! Human life was God’s idea. Male and female was God’s idea. Marriage and family was God’s idea. Work was God’s idea.
Sweat was not God’s idea. That was God’s punishment.
I’ll tell you what honors God – a good job. When you do something well - when you do your best – when you put your heart into it. That pleases God. When you do it so that He would be proud of it. When you do it to please Him.
The cry of the Apostle Paul’s heart was "…that I may please Him."
He admonishes all believers to have the same goal.
1Th 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
And Jesus proclaimed that this was His duty -
Joh 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
In everything you do, seek to please God. Whatever your job may be – whatever your hobby may be – whatever your calling may be. Whatever task or responsibility you take up, by all means do it for the glory of God. Do it for Him! Do it to please Him – to make Him proud.
Do you think God will bless some half-hearted effort? I don’t think so! And I don’t think God can bless the half-hearted attempt some people give at living the Christian life. Either live it or don’t, but for goodness sake don’t pretend to live. And don’t deceive yourself into thinking you’re living it when you’re not.
I am convinced that with God it is and ‘all or nothing’ proposition. There is no such thing as a half-hearted Christian.
Moses said it:
Deut 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Joshua said it:
Josh 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Samuel said it:
1Sam 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
Jeremiah said it:
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Joel said it:
Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
And Jesus said it in many ways:
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Give none offence – seek not to please yourself, but others.
The biggest problem in relationships of any kind is selfishness. We all want our own way – our own pleasure – our own benefit. We all see ourselves as right and everyone else is wrong. And, of course, God is always on my side and not yours. And as long as we see things that way, there will be problems in our relationships, and problems in our religion. Remember, as we said Sunday night, your prayer life is affected by your relationships with your fellow man.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Finally, Paul makes the strongest comment one can make as a Christian:
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
I was in a store at the mall one day when I overheard another customer asking for directions. The directions were complicated and the customer was getting confused and frustrated, and I just happened to pick up the words ‘Yeamans Hall Road’. I said, "Are you trying to get to Yeamans Hall Road?" He said. "Yes, can you help me?" I said, "Follow me!"
Hey, it doesn’t get any better than that. "Follow me. I’ll show you the way."
I got in my car. He got in his. Then it hit me – I’ve not only got to lead this guy to Yeamans Hall Road – I’ve got to drive the speed limit all the way. I’ve got to be careful not to pull out in front of anybody. I’ve got to make sure I don’t cut any traffic lights too close. (You know what I’m talking about – running through those yellow lights before the red light catches you.)
When somebody is following you, you not only have to get to your destination, you have to walk straight.
Follow me! Are you setting an example with your life others can follow?