Q. “G.” Please explain the meaning of 1 Corinthians 10:3131Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31): “Do all to the glory of God.” How is this to be the primary object of all we do, such as using natural talents and the like?
A. First of all we should seek to know the direct subject before the mind of the Spirit in any Scripture; for to introduce a thought which is not there only makes it more difficult to understand it. The apostle Paul has specially before him the thought of meats offered to idols, with the conduct becoming those who are Christ’s in their practical walk in the world. Whether it were eating or drinking, or whatever we do, all is to be done to God’s glory; and not to please ourselves and our selfish ends. We should think of another’s conscience, even if our own were free, and all things lawful to us. A weaker one might be stumbled by our liberty; better then, to deny ourselves than injure him for whom Christ died. Especially then, should we observe this care and solicitude for the conscience of another in the things of God. He is best kept himself who thinks most thus of his brother; and he who in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. No offense should be given by abusing our Christian liberty, whether to the Jew or to the Gentile, or to the Church of God; seeking thus the profit of others and not our own.
As to the use of natural talents the principle holds good. We are not our own, but are bought with a price (and what a price!) We should seek to know what is the will of the Lord in their use. We may be able to serve Him by them in working for our bread, or for others, or to help in the Lord’s work if the former be unnecessary. And we have to think of His will, not our own. When it becomes a question of doing our own will it is sin.
The Lord may use our natural talents in His service by bestowing spiritual gifts upon us. Natural ability is recognized in the Lord’s bestowing spiritual gifts in the parable of the talents, (Matthew 25). The ability is recognized, then the gift bestowed, and then increase is to be made by trading with the same in His service. But the simple question of every-day life is, whether it is the will of the Lord or my own will, which actuates me in the use even of natural talents and ability; if it be His, it will surely be to “God’s glory” in a scene where His glory is trampled under foot, and man’s will characterizes the world.
Another writes (from Hastings) as to ministering in every-day life to others, even when such is refused. Let us be assured that the Lord will open a door for service of such nature, as He does for every kind of true service to Him; when He does not, we cannot force one open. The flesh may refuse our services of love (even as it did Christ’s), but divine love is never checked by the ingratitude of its objects, as a spring is not hindered by the channel through which it flows. To resist flesh is to feed it; to bow to the will of the Lord in meekness is our path. To recognize flesh in another is but to provoke and call it into action, as recognizing it in ourselves is but to give it a place once more. Flesh likes this, for it cannot bear to be reckoned dead and incapable of good, whether in ourselves or in another.