whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
The sun goes down and the sun comes up. Another day. How do you choose what to do? Are your days like Bill Murray’s days in the movie Groundhog Day? Are they days with the same activities with no real purpose that seem to repeat themselves in a never-ending pattern of useless hours and minutes that slowly move? Do you ever wonder why God put you here and if you can make a difference in your small circle of friends? God tells us why in His word.
Without a doubt, I believe God has given us some of the most valuable advice that should drive decisions we make, activities we choose, and the attitudes we display.
Whatever You Do
This pretty much sums it up. Whatever you do means everything you do. Not one thing you do is subtracted from the whole of your decisions. You constantly choose to do what you do, and everything you do matters. What you choose to say matters. How you speak matters. Your interactions with other people matter. And surprisingly, it isn’t about you. WHAT? That’s right. Paul tells us that it all matters.
This may surprise some of you because you may think that what goes on in your own house is secret from others outside your house. You may think you can say, do, and think whatever you want to in your home as long as you say and do the right things in public. But who you are matters way more than you might realize.
When is the last time you questioned the activities you choose to participate in around others? Life is about choices, so how do you make yours?
Choose to Do it for God’s Glory
We do what we do for God’s glory. This means what we do should bring attention to the Lord. Why? Again, it has never been about us. In a self-centered, it’s all about me, get ahead kind of world, this seems counter-intuitive, but it’s true. Our motivation for doing what we do is primarily to bring attention to the One Who created us and made us. It really is about bringing attention to Him, not us.
When we choose to do ANYTHING, we should do it to bring glory to God. When you begin to consider which choices you make, do so in light of the Lord. Do your actions and attitudes bring attention to Him or to yourself?
Choose to Do it so Others Will Be Saved
Do you see how Paul does? He sets up his argument as a fool-proof way to bring others to Christ? It’s true. If we follow the plan and look at the results, it should be clear. Our motivation for our actions is that we do what we do for God’s glory so others will be saved. Is it that simple? Yes. It’s that simple. Does it always work? No. But that shouldn’t change our motivation.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have hobbies, enjoy playing basketball, play fantasy football, or run in marathons. Ok, I’m not sure anyone should run in marathons….but that is another story. But it does mean that when you do those activities you really enjoy, you should do so with the end in mind. The end is so that you don’t ruin God’s reputation in your life and hinder the God-provided influence you have in someone else’s life. Why you do what you do matters.
What you say about certain events going on in our world today matters. When people look at you do they see Jesus, or do they see a self-serving, egotistical, in it for himself, selfish, and prideful person who lives out his dreams without regard for others? This was never God’s intention when you were created.
And just as surely as the sun rises each morning, you have a crucial choice to make. What will drive you as you seek to live each day? How will you choose to live this day? Who will you choose to influence today as you live to bring attention to the Lord? Who will God place in your life today so that you can tell them about Jesus? Will you?