QuickThoughts: All For The Glory of God

📘 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 LSB

I often see this verse shared on its own, without any if the surrounding context. While this verse has plenty of application by itself, and is indeed something to apply to every aspect of our daily lives, there is more to it than that.

Paul is specifically instructing believers on how to behave in such a way as to not unnecessarily offend unbelievers and fellow believers.

The Christian life is simple, but it is not always easy. Nor is it always simple to decide what to do in a complex situation.

In 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, Paul is positing a specific scenario:

📘 If one of the unbelievers invites you [to eat] and you want to go…

1 Corinthians 10:27a LSB

An unbeliever in Corinth may possibly be serving meat sacrificed to idols as a part of the meal. Paul tells us to eat freely, but to not ASK if the meat had been sacrificed:

📘 … eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.

1 Corinthians 10:27b LSB

As Christians, we have the liberty to eat anything we want, “For the earth is the Lord’s, as well as its fullness” (v. 26).

We should employ that liberty and eat in ignorance whatever the unbeliever serves us, so as not to offend them.

However, if we are made aware that the meat has been sacrificed to idols, we have a greater consideration.

📘 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat consecrated to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake. I do not mean your own conscience, but the other person’s. For why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?

1 Corinthians 10:28-29 LSB

The “one who informed you” is another believer, perhaps a weaker brother or sister whose conscience is offended by eating such things.

In that case, it is better to offend our unbelieving host than to offend our brethren and cause their conscience to judge us for it.

Even if we are giving thanks to God for the meat, we are in danger of sinning against our brethren and our God:

📘 If I partake with gratefulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

1 Corinthians 10:30 LSB

Here we finally come to Paul’s main point: that whatever we choose to do, whether eating the meat or abstaining, we are to do it to God’s glory, by not offending anyone, if possible:

📘 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31-32 LSB

So, how do we not offend ANYONE in a scenario like this? This passage can be challenging to fully interpret (at least it is for me), but I believe a level of “plausible deniability” is involved here.

If we are about to take part in something that we DO have the freedom to do sinlessly, but that might possibly cause another brother to stumble, we should give up our freedom for their sake.

Seek to please all men in all things, but do not be afraid to offend unbelievers if it means you are loving the brethren and giving glory to God.

📘 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 10:33LSB

Scripture is amazing, friends. Don’t just read it; dig deep, meditate, ponder, and love it. It is the only gateway to knowledge of our Lord and Savior!