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

GOD, HAVING CALLED us to freedom, has richly provided us with everything to enjoy, but oftentimes such liberty has been wrested and abused for the use of selfish means. It is so acutely subtle that unless God reveals the motives of the heart, many will continue to justify their ways, even to ridiculing others who have obeyed God in such areas.

‘Eat to live, not live to eat’ goes the motto, but seldom a principle in our current world that lives around its appetites and impulses. Generally, it is difficult to distinguish today’s Christian from the world; both are ruled by instinctive appetites, whereas the Christian ought to be exemplary through self control – a distinguishing mark of the work and fruit of the Spirit.

Apart from those who suffer genuine health disorders of an imbalanced metabolism for example, there is no justification or excuse for being overweight – not just by a few pounds over, but where one person makes up the weight of two! Ironically, it is ludicrous to hear such people, who lack self-control, criticise and judge another for smoking because it is unhealthy and tarnishes the body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit (this is neither to condemn or condone smoking). Had such accusers really possessed sound spiritual judgement, they would soon discern that being overweight – which more often than not results in a dangerously high cholesterol count – is medically worse than that of those who smoke.

To search our hearts and answer honestly, what would we say we live for? Of course God made us and so constituted us to eat in order to live, produce energy and furthermore, He gave us taste buds to enjoy our food – but what really is our ‘food’? Is it the kind we physically eat or the will of God that truly brings satisfaction? Jesus ate; He encountered the same bodily needs as you and I (Luke 8:23; 24:41-43; John 4:6, 7), but all throughout His life here on earth, the will of His Father in heaven permeated every desire, motive and action of His; nothing He did was of His own volition (John 6:38; Hebrews 10:7) and at times that manifested powerfully before His witnesses: “…the disciples were urging Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’ But He said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought Him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:31-34).

Jesus exposed the true desires of why many were following Him; they pursued Him because He met their physical need and they were content with that alone at the perilous neglect of their souls and spiritual condition. “Do not labour for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you…” (John 6:27). “The pagans or Gentiles”, Jesus said, “seek after [are consumed with] all these things: ‘what shall we eat…what shall we drink…what shall we wear?’ (Matthew 6:31-32). As Christians, we are not called to live for these things; our life should not revolve around them and yet many show more enthusiasm when it comes to the talk of restaurants, the latest vogue in dress, make up and body art. This is living for the things of the world and such a mentality is no different whatsoever from those who do not profess Christ.

Is this insinuating that Christians are exempt from enjoyment? The Scriptures alone repeatedly bear the facts of God’s people filled with joy, enjoying His Fatherly benevolence and provisions – but He was central to it all; He took pre-eminence in the lives. Of course God intends for us to enjoy; only a twisted mind, void of a knowledge of God, would entertain such reasoning. How much our lives would radically change if we ate and drank to the glory of God and spent our leisure time with the glory of God in mind. I’m sure many serious reforms would take place.

Does it sound ridiculous considering these aspects? Is it pointless, petty and pedantic? Or do we really understand the significance that being a disciple of Christ involves every area and activity of our lives? Many Christians only get serious and act spiritual when they attend church, but are we so oblivious to the fact that no matter what we do and how and wherever we live our lives can either be an act of worship of self or God? Worshipping God does not consist in ‘singing’ to Him; we don’t ‘sing’ to ourselves when self is given pre-eminence in our lives; self-love is manifested in the choices one makes just as loving and worshipping God is truly expressed in how one conducts their lives in obedience to Him.

The world lives for itself and we (as Christians) would be wrong to expect any other way of expression from the world (outside of Christ), but when it comes to professing Christians who really live for themselves, there is a contradiction that cannot be excused. The church striving for enjoyment and pleasure has been the modern curse of 21^st century Christianity. We are not here for pleasure and to please ourselves, but God. God blesses obedience, but it’s a perversion to obey with the motive for pleasure seeking; we obey Him because we already love Him, whether He blesses or not. God does not want us miserable – quite the opposite, but we will be miserable if we live for our own ends in mind.

A.W. Tozer’s words are an uncomfortable reminder to many who live in a comfort zone: “While Christ was the perfect example of the healthy normal man, He yet did not live a normal life. He sacrificed many pure enjoyments to give Himself to the holy work of moral rescue. His conduct was determined not by what was legitimate or innocent, but by our human need. He pleased not Himself but lived for the emergency: and as He was so are we in this world.”

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”