All means all

I was hungry before leaving work the other day. I was making a mental checklist of what I had to do when I got home and before eating dinner. Wash the eggs, water the horses, unload the dishwasher, put away the laundry and then make the dinner. So before my half hour drive home, I stopped off at the Chinese place and got three hot, freshly cooked spring rolls.

I was transported into the moment with the first bite. The hot, crispy outer shell. The warm steaming vegetables. It hit the spot so well, I spontaneously busted out with a, “thank you Jesus!” It was a similar moment to what you experience when eating bacon, or dessert. Joy on your tongue.

Then 1 Cor. 10:31 came to mind. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” [NIV] Wow, the connection kind of overwhelmed me.

Every. Single. Thing. Do it for the glory of God. I got my first chance to try it out driving home. There is a winding stretch of canyon where the speed limit is 55 mph, and the driver in front of me was comfortable doing only 35. With no passing zones, I had no choice but to slow down, turn up the Christian radio station, and sing along to the glory of God. No road rage, just praise. Awesome!

Upon arriving at home, I completed my chores to the glory of God. No feelings of “woe is me,” just praise. So it struck me I need to start looking at everything, what I’m saying and doing, through the filter of doing it to the glory of God.

So what does that look like? Here is what I found in the Bible commentaries on biblehub.com for 1 Cor. 10:31

“These words embrace all life. The quality of each act depends on the spirit which guides it, and the motive from which it springs.” (Ellicott’s)

“In all things whatsoever, keep the glory of God in view and steadily pursue, in all, this one end of your being, the planting or advancing the vital knowledge and love of God, first in your own souls, then in the souls of as many others as you can have access to, or by any means influence.” (Benson)

“In all the actions and plans of life, let all be done to the glory of God. The phrase ‘the glory of God’ is equivalent to the honor of God; and the direction is that we should so act in all things as to ‘honor’ him as our Lawgiver, our Creator, our Redeemer; and so as to lead others by our example to praise and to embrace His gospel. Whatever plan or purpose will tend to advance His kingdom, and to make him better known and loved, will be to His glory.”

“That this rule is universal. It extends to everything. If in so small matters as eating and drinking we should seek to honor God, assuredly we should in all other things. It is designed that this should be the constant rule of conduct, and that we should be often reminded of it. The acts of eating and drinking must be performed often; and the command is attached to that which must often occur, that we may be often reminded of it, and that we may be kept from forgetting it.”

“What a change it would make in the world if this rule were every where followed! And what a mighty revolution would it at once make on the earth should all the actions of people begin to be performed to promote the glory of God!”

“We should devote the strength which we derive from the bounties of His hand to His honor and in His service. He gives us food; He makes it nourishing; He invigorates our frame, and that strength should not be devoted to purposes of sin.” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)

“Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” (Rom. 6:13 [NLT])

God also created the food we eat to display His glory. I love fractals in nature. They are never ending patterns that have a tendency to appear nearly the same at different levels. The picture I used for this post is of a fractal pattern in Romanesco broccoli. So not only is it good for us to eat, but brings us joy, visually, while on out plate.

So eat your broccoli to the glory of God. Maybe with a side of bacon, followed by some dessert and taste the joy of the Lord on your tongue!