For The Glory
Daily Rays of Hope #146
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
Out of our love for God and wanting to honor him, it is easy to attempt to validate whether what you're doing is Godly every single time. It's easy to test and question if the food is blessed. It's easy to question whether or not the person that you're eating with is Godly or ungodly. More than once, many of us have questioned the source of information and whether or not that person can be trusted to be Holy Spirit-led or whether they're just simply sharing a good message from scripture.
In this verse of scripture in 1st Corinthians 10:31, God is saying through the apostle that rather than testing whether or not every piece of food has been sanctified or testing whether or not the person has blessed their hands and is doing the right thing, we are to do ALL things in for the Glory of God. To eat and to drink unto His glory.
Now, the apostle makes the clear distinction that we are not to come into agreement if people are worshiping idols. We are not to come into agreement if people have intentionally attempted to bring us into Covenant with things that are not godly. However, to question sanctification, to question whether idol worship has been done on things, and to question whether a piece of meat is prepared a certain way when sitting with nonbelievers is in bad form.
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:27-31 in the NIV gives us a deeper look into the scripture and its context. When advised to eat whatever is put before you, it may have felt sacrilegious to those reading the letter from the apostle. To not be intentional question? To not question whether our food is sanctified? It seems counterintuitive in being a Believer. However, there is another scripture that supports this explicitly:
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” - Mark 16:15-18 NIV
When you commit yourself to doing things to God's glory, to blessing your food, and trusting in the Lord your god, you set yourself apart from people who are overly worried about religion, rituals, and tradition. You are able to be present fully in the moment and know that God will cover you in the midst of it. You can release the fear-based, controlling, and religious mindset in exchange for peace and doing all things for His glory.
You can apply this to every part of your life. In business, in relationships, and in eating and drinking. Doing it all for the glory of the Lord covers every part of our lives. We are surrounded by believers in nonbelievers who don't necessarily bless their food. They don't always believe in doing things in a ritualistic way. But if we keep our minds stayed on this principle and focus on the glory of God, we can then release any fear of harm or danger coming to us. This makes us more effective in the scope of our life being a ministry.
Three Ways To Walk Out This Scripture Today
1. Honor God in the Ordinary
Invite His Presence into Everyday Moments
Whether you are sharing a meal, responding to an email, or running errands, choose to be mindful of God’s presence. Whisper a prayer of gratitude. Ask Him for wisdom. Dedicate even the small things to Him with joy and reverence. When you do this, the ordinary becomes sacred, and your routine becomes a place of worship.
2. Release Religious Perfectionism
Trust God's Grace Over Rituals and Rules
Let go of the anxiety that tells you everything must be done in a perfect religious order. Don’t get caught in fear over whether someone else’s prayer or practice meets a specific standard. Instead, place your trust in God’s covering. Walk in faith, not fear. The glory of God is found in freedom, not formula.
3. Live with a Ministry Mindset
Let Your Life Reflect God’s Character
Treat your business, your relationships, and your choices as part of your daily ministry. Show up with excellence, speak with integrity, and act with kindness. People may never enter a church, but they will encounter you. If everything you do points back to God, His glory will be seen through your life.
By practicing these principles, you allow your life to be a living sacrifice and an instrument of worship. When your heart is focused on glorifying God, there is no part of life too small or too secular for His presence to shine through.