Glory to God Alone

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

1 Corinthians 10:31

Soli Deo Gloria (“Glory to God Alone”) unites the Five Solas of the Reformation because it reveals the ultimate goal of the Reformation: to glorify the triune God.  The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism effectively captures the spirit of Soli Deo Gloria.  “What is the chief end of man?  Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.”  Sometimes people ask about the meaning of life.  The meaning of life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.  Since our God created us for his glory (Isaiah 43:7), the purpose of our lives is to bring honor to him.  Although sinners seek their own glory, God will not share his glory with another.  “I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols” (Isaiah 42:8).  Since God created all things, and since God saves us by his sovereign power, he deserves the glory and praise for what he alone has done in Jesus Christ.  Sinners do not deserve the honor and praise; for they are completely dependent on the work of God.  On a practical level this means that we should seek to glorify God in all that we do.  We glorify God not only by attending church, reading our Bibles, and sharing the gospel with others, but we may also glorify him in our secular life.  The mundane activities of life may be redeemed for the praise of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31 mentions “eating” and “drinking” and “whatever you do.”  Glorifying God is a principle of operation that should impact every detail of our lives.  What does it mean to eat and drink to the glory of God?  It means that we thank our Creator for these good gifts.  In addition, it means that we consider his goodness in the blessing of his gifts.  St. Augustine once prayed to God, “He loves Thee too little who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake.”  We must love God’s gifts for God’s sake.  This brings him glory.  Have you ever stopped to consider what kind of God would create such a thing as laughter? or pleasure?  or wonder?  How it brings him glory to ponder such things!  The Reformation teaches us that we may glorify and enjoy God in any activity of life except sin.  We can glorify and enjoy him at church, at work, at home, and even at play.  God is the Sovereign Lord of all creation.  We should not compartmentalize our lives into spheres where we are able to praise him and spheres where we are not.  The Reformers rediscovered the great truth that you do not have to be a monk or a priest in order to bring glory to God.  We all can bring glory to God by doing what we were created and redeemed to do.  Specifically, we glorify God by serving him faithfully in our earthly callings as children, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and workers.  Today let us remember that true spirituality does not mean that we must always be engaged in “spiritual” activities; it means that we must recognize that in every activity of life God deserves to be acknowledged and adored.  What do you have to do today?  Do all to the glory of God!