Can We Really Eat and Drink for the Glory of God?
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“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The above verse gives believers a purpose for their lives, namely to glorify God in whatever they do! From the mundane tasks of everyday life to our greatest goals and dreams, we should filter it all through this purpose of bringing glory to God.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism puts it this way:
Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Paul specifies that this purpose of glorifying God in everything should even include the activities of eating and drinking. Before we jump to the topic of eating and drinking for God’s glory though, we must understand the concept of living for a single purpose. As believers, we are to live lives wholly devoted to God and His glory. This is clear in Scripture.
We Are to Live with Undivided Hearts – to Love God above All
“You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’” (Matthew 22:37).
“And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time” (1 Kings 8:61).
We Are to Live with a Glorious Ambition - to Honor God with Our Bodies
“You say, ‘Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.’ The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20).
If we know what our purpose and passion is, we make decisions out of that purpose and passion. An athlete competes to win. A farmer devotes him or herself to the harvest. A parent prioritizes the welfare of his/her child. A child of God is focused on pleasing God in everything he or she does (even in the mundane daily details like eating and drinking)!
Typical Motivations for Eating and Drinking
It may sound absurd to eat and drink for God’s glory. If we consider the typical motivations for why we eat and drink, they are usually more along the lines of:
- To appease hunger or thirst
- To gain strength
- To experience or increase pleasure
- To avoid boredom
- To cope with stress or unhappiness
- To celebrate life’s wins or victories
- To honor culture or traditions
How often do we, as believers, eat and drink “for the glory of God” as Paul challenges us to do in 1 Corinthians 10:31? I think the answer could safely be that we almost never consciously eat and drink for God’s glory. However, can some of the above motivations for eating and drinking bring glory to God?
The answer is yes. For instance, the Apostle Paul also tells us that God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (see passage below). If we consciously enjoy God’s provisions, we bring him glory.
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
Biblical Motivations for Eating and Drinking
What would it look like if we consciously lived for God’s glory, especially as it relates to eating and drinking? The following are some ways we can do exactly that:
- Thank God for His provisions. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
- Use the energy gained to serve God and others.
- Practice biblical hospitality (Luke 14:12-14; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2) by doing things like feeding the hungry (1 John 3:17), sharing a meal with unbelievers and using that opportunity to share your faith, or cooking and baking to encourage others.
- Fellowship with other believers over a meal.
- Set an example of spiritual maturity in regards to eating and drinking (employing wisdom, moderation, intentionality, generosity, etc.)
- Refuse the sins of gluttony, drunkenness, selfishness and greed. (Proverbs 23:20; Romans 13:13-14; Ephesians 5:18)
- Practice the spiritual discipline of fasting. (Isaiah 58:6-7)
Our Chief Aim
In conclusion, we need to be aware that to live for the glory of God in such a fashion requires intentionality. (See Jonathan Edward’s Resolutions for a great example of this type of intentional living.) In other words, we don’t glorify God accidentally. As the Westminster Catechism put it, it is to be our chief aim in life.
Like so many things, food and drink can either control us, or we can be the one in control. (The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control, Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us.) We can choose to use what we consume for the glory of God, or even decide to set limits or abstain for God’s glory. Daniel was an example of this:
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way” (Daniel 1:8).
God is pleased when we choose what is beneficial, when we use our bodies to honor Him, and when we seek to glorify Him in everything we do!
“’I have the right to do anything,’ you say — but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ — but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Bobex-73
Kristi Walker has been a missionary in Berlin, Germany for over 19 years working with CrossWay International Baptist Church. She is the author of three books: Disappointment: A Subtle Path Away from Christ, Convinced: Applying Biblical Principles to Life’s Choices, and Big Picture: 66 Books, 1 Message.