Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB
The bar is set extremely high by the uncomfortable inclusion of the word, “whatsoever.” Put another way, it means that everything I do should be done with this consideration: Is this for the glory of God?
The goal is high, almost impossibly high. But there was one Man Who met its every requirement. Even more praiseworthy is that He did it His entire life without much, if any, encouragement from family and friends. Frequently, He knew only misunderstanding and a lack of appreciation.
Consider only, however, those hours in the upper room, possibly only three or four hours in His life. And take just four things that are recorded which He did during that time: He washed the feet of disciples, ate, drank, and sang a Psalm. Now, align them next to the standard which our verse establishes. Were they done to the glory of God? And what is “the glory of God?”
“He riseth from supper … and took a towel” (John 13:5). We have been taught that “glory” is the expression of inward moral virtues. If I understand John 13 aright, I learn that I have a God Who stoops to serve the least of His own. The imminent failure of Peter, the fleeing of the others at the approach of the mob, nothing changed His appreciation and care for them. He stooped to wash their feet and displayed the glory of God in the meanest of service.
He took bread and gave thanks; He gave thanks for all of which that the bread spoke. He gave thanks that He could give His body to glorify His Father and to redeem us. He gave thanks and in so doing, He glorified his Father in heaven.
And then the cup. As He raised his heart to His Father in thanksgiving for all the cup symbolized, He was giving glory to God. Here was something praiseworthy to God: Man on earth willing to accomplish the will of God at the greatest imaginable price. Here was the supreme act, the greatest ever done on earth to bring glory to God. As a result of the cup being taken by our Savior, praise has risen from earth to the heart of God through all the centuries. But beyond that, it has resulted in heaven being peopled with redeemed souls who will flood the atmosphere of heaven with eternal worship.
Finally, when all the other acts which glorified God were accomplished, we read that they “sang a hymn” and went out (Mark 14:26). It was likely the last hymn of the Great Hallel which was sung at Passover. It ends with these words, “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever” (Ps 118:29). He went to the cross with a spirit of worship in His heart and thanksgiving on His lips. He not only ate and drank to the glory of God, but He sang, as well. The Man about to endure the stroke from the hand of the Omnipotent Judge of all the earth gave thanks and spoke of the mercy or lovingkindness of God!
Four acts in just four hours, all motivated by love for His Father. All were done to the glory of God. Nothing could have been improved upon or enhanced. And while just a few hours of His life are captured here, they reflect every moment of every day of His life here amongst us. I think that we can add that He continues even now at God’s right hand, to do all to the glory of God.
Consider:
In what other way do you understand “glory” and how would you relate it to the Lord’s life?