God’s Glory

Text: ESV 1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Goal: That we do all to the glory of God.

ESV 1 Timothy 1:2 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

It’s easy to overlook the small things in life. To ignore the small opportunities that daily come our way. I took some time this week to think about all the small opportunities that I’d missed. I had a chance to pray with a woman who was going through a difficult time, but I was in a hurry. I had a chance to give encouragement to a fellow pastor, but it was a little awkward. I had the opportunity to finish a project here at church, but I wasted the time away instead. It’s easy to overlook, ignore, or even despise the little opportunities that God brings our way. When God wants us to be productive for His Kingdom, so often we want to be productive for ourselves. God says to us, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

God is always at work. He’s always revealing His glory. Consider the Old Testament reading for today. Even though some terrible things were happening, God showed His power and glory. Even though a little girl had been carried off in a raid, God was still at work. I remember hearing this story a few times when I was a kid going to Sunday school and I guess I missed the significance of the little girl. The Syrians, enemies of God’s chosen people had gone on a raid. Somehow they’d captured this little girl. We don’t know what happened to her family. We aren’t told what kind of terrible things that she might have experienced. No matter what had taken place, she had every right to be angry and resentful toward her captors. She was a slave in the household of a man who had probably destroyed her family. And yet this little girl saw her master Naaman struggling with leprosy and she had pity on him. She told Naaman that there was a prophet in Samaria who could heal his leprosy. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

So Naaman requested permission from the king of Syria and he went to see the prophet. Can you imagine a great military leader, an enemy of the Israelites, going to see the prophet Elisha? Think about Elisha. What an opportunity. He was presented with the perfect situation, one that he could have manipulated for incredible personal gain. If he had any ambitions for material or political success, this was his chance to make it big. But Elisha chose to remain anonymous. He didn’t even go out to meet the mighty Syrian warrior. He didn’t put on a great show for everyone to see an incredible miracle. Elisha sent a messenger to give the mighty warrior a ridiculously simple task: “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10). What an insult. What a slap in the face. If Elisha was hoping for any personal gain, the opportunity was immediately gone. Naaman was furious, but Elisha didn’t care. Elisha simply lived his life according to God’s plan and He trusted God to provide for his needs. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

What about the bigger things in our lives? Are we doing everything to God’s glory? Are we willing to risk our reputations? Do we put our trust in God’s provision? Have we taken the time to consider what it means to live our lives to the glory of God? What is your place in life? Are you working? Do you have a job, or a vocation? A job is a something you do because you have to. A vocation is a something you do because you want to. There’s a big difference. Here are a few ideas for determining if you have a job, or a vocation. This is important, because most people working jobs have a hard time doing it to the glory of God. And some people, who believe they are only working at a job, actually have a very important vocation.

First, think about all the ways that you help others when you do your job well. If you can’t pinpoint specific ways that you help others through your job, then you’re probably frustrated with it and you’re probably having a difficult time doing your job to God’s glory. If you can think of ways that you help others through your job, then your job is probably a vocation. Second, think of the specific skills, talents, and abilities that God has given to you. Everyone has been given skills, talents, and abilities from God. Are you using these skills, talents, and abilities when you perform your job? If your best skills get left idle when you perform your job, then you’re probably not working in the vocation that God designed for you and you’re probably having a difficult time doing your job to God’s glory. Finally, does your job provide you with opportunities to give God glory? When you do your job to the best of your ability . . . when you realize that God has given you some incredible talents . . . when you consider how you are helping others, your job becomes a vocation and through your vocation you are an incredible witness to others. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

The servant girl was in a difficult position. She was forced into a job that couldn’t have been very pleasant, but she performed her duties to the glory of God. As she did, God provided an opportunity for her to witness to the mighty warrior Naaman. Elisha’s vocation was that of a prophet. He had many opportunities to claim glory and fame for himself, but he chose to work behind the scenes. He spoke God’s word through a messenger and wisely fulfilled the duties of his vocation, giving God the glory. Even when Naaman returned from being cleansed to offer a gift to Elisha, Elisha would not accept any payment. Here’s the rest of the story from 2 Kings 5:15&16: “Then he [Naaman] returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he [Naaman] said, ‘Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.’ But he [Elisha] said, ‘As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.’ And he urged him to take it, but he refused.” “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

So, now we’re at the part of the sermon where you might be thinking, “So what?” “How do those events in the Old Testament tie in with Jesus Christ?” God worked through the servant girl to show Naaman pity and not pity like we think of the word. She was deeply concerned about his health and physical condition. When the leper came to Jesus, Jesus was moved with pity. Jesus was also deeply concerned about his health and condition. Through the prophet Elisha, God demonstrated His power and authority by cleansing Naaman’s skin. Jesus acted on His own power and authority and said, “Be clean.” “And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean” (Mark 1:42). Best of all, when Naaman tried to repay Elisha for the healing that he’d received, Elisha refused payment. It was a free gift from God Himself, delivered to Naaman as God empowered a servant girl to speak. Delivered as God empowered a prophet to proclaim. Delivered as Naaman accepted his free gift.

We’ve all received a free gift as well. Free because we did nothing to earn it. Free because Jesus gives it to us. Free because Jesus paid the price with His own blood. What’s our gift? Well, it’s much more than physical healing, although that’s part of the package deal. What we’ve received is the healing of our spirit . . . complete forgiveness of our sins . . . absolute assurance of our salvation. The servant girl, Elisha, and even Naaman all were given faith in the Savior to come. The leper, who received healing, saw Jesus in the flesh. We look forward to the day when Jesus will return. He’s already died for us. He’s already risen for us. Right now He’s working through us as we do all to the glory of God. He helps us to take advantage of the small opportunities. He guides us in the bigger things in life. He uses us through our vocations, through our situations in life, to give God all the glory. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

ESV Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.