Ordinary
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB
Whatever – “Whatever” covers a lot of things. The little word, ti, envelopes our whole lives. Maybe that’s why Paul starts with the basics. Eating and drinking. How much more ordinary can it get? If we glorify God in those simple, necessary actions, we will be better prepared to glorify God in the rest of our behaviors. At least that’s the idea. But what if we aren’t glorifying God in the simple things? What then? Do we imagine that we will be prepared for acts of heroism, stupendous displays of righteousness, victories on the mountaintops if we are not eating and drinking to His glory? The answer is, “Of course!” Of course we can act righteously when the big crisis comes. We can pull ourselves up and demonstrate spiritual tenacity, even martyrdom, when things really count. However, Paul isn’t talking about those Golgotha moments. He’s talking about the completely ordinary elements of living—the eating and drinking parts, the places where no one expects anything more than just life as it is.
Oswald Chambers wrote about this ordinary stuff in one of his greatest devotionals. He penned, “If you are rightly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the sublime height where no one ever thinks of noticing you, all that is noticed is that the power of God comes through you all the time.” [1] “The test of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is.” His words are a slap in the face. Not success? Are you kidding! Of course the spiritual life is about success. About bigger and better. About more—more converts, more programs, more churches, more tithes. What does eating and drinking have to do with the Great Commission?
Oswald and Paul raise an issue. What if glorifying God is really about life’s simplest things—and the rest is up to Him? How do I glorify God in eating and drinking? That is Paul’s assumption. He assumes that we know what it means to glorify God in eating and drinking and therefore, we know what it means to glorify Him in all that we do. And what does it mean? Must it not mean that I eat and drink according to His desires? How can it be anything else? If I do not eat or drink according to His instructions, will He be just as pleased as long as I say a blessing over the non-food? Would He graciously accept my sin just because I ask for His indulgence? How can I glorify Him in all that I do if I don’t glorify Him in the basic needs of life? Eat, drink, love, build, propagate, gather, restore, rule—if God is not honored in these things, how can I imagine I honor Him in anything else? If I ignore His instructions in the smallest of life’s necessities, how can I believe that He finds my great acts of worship worthy of His name?
Ti covers a lot of things. Apparently all those things begin at the table.
Topical Index: ti, whatever, eat, drink, glorify, 1 Corinthians 10:31
[1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, November 16th.
I think that for whatever God offers, there exists also a counterfeit. Eating and drinking. The thoughtful act of breaking bread. Making and saying a blessing at meal-times. For this there is the counterfeit of fast food, instant breakfast, and no table grace or blessing whatsoever. Where’s the glory in that?
The studies are out. If we are not careful, the secular community may well do an end run around us on this one.
I have seen definitive studies on the fact that the nutrition that our bodies actually absorb from our food is directly related to what MOOD (spirit??) we happen to eat it in. They infer that if we are happy, thankful, in good company, and appreciative and thoughtful about every mouthful, the nutritional ABSORPTION increases exponentially. We are not talking a little bit. We are talking double and triple. If I know that I am eating in a kosher way, mindful of the highest principles of nourishing (building) the true house for the Spirit of the Living God, which the Word tells me I am, in accordance with all the laws of the physical universe that fashioned that food, and if I am being properly thankful for the same, is not eating then a prayer; an erecting a temple where all the right preps were done off-site so that the building can go up in silence and symmetry? Are our bodies not a temple of the Living God? And what other way is He going to show out on this planet? If all His works are to bless the Lord, is not the works that I am most directly responsible for; namely, the body He created for me to dwell in, supposed to bless Him also with the finest of construction? I think that feeling good, like Daniel and his friends demonstrated in Babylon, which is a DIRECT result of eating and drinking correctly, is the best precursor to being actually able to do good. I like living in such a place. Side benefits…
Thanks for the insight into the nutritional facts. But, of course, we eat according to the Torah because God commanded it, not because of the nutrition, even though what you say is important.
Two other things. I hope you do not mean that you “dwell” in the body as if you are somehow separate from the physical embodiment. That would be a dualism that the Tanakh soundly rejects. And please note the the often quoted verse about the temple and the body is PLURAL, that is, the body as temple is the whole assembly, not the individual. Take a look at the Greek.
Thank you, for the preciseness. And, if He commanded it, is it not good?
Of course, I AM my body, and my body is me. That cursed dualism infects our speech…
And would not still I, as a particular of that Body, enjoy all the accoutrements of that Body, including the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Is not the part (me) included in that whole? And would that not still mean that my physical condition was designed to show the glory of God?
Thank you for the plural correction, too. Would that not then be able to include the whole spirit-soul-body that Paul is referring to in his prayer for the sanctification of peace (shalom (spirit), or settledness of mind (soul) or homeostasis (body)) in each person in 1Thess. 5;23? I have taken that prayer quite personally from time to time, with good results. Halleluah!
I appreciate you very much, Skip.
“They infer that if we are happy, thankful, in good company, and appreciative and thoughtful about every mouthful, the nutritional ABSORPTION increases exponentially.”
Lauritia, thanks for this statement. Even in the craziness of my childhood, even as an orphan in a home where I wasn’t really loved or had interest/care shown to me (I was definitely the auxillary), even as a young bride and mother, even as a single parent of 14 years and many many years later with a huge blended family, I’ve always had meals around the table (except for “special” times.) Dining at the table meant/means calm and pleasant conversation showing interest (including eye contact) with each person at our table.
Turns out, maybe all that eating in happiness, with fun-loving family discussion and, many times, guests, is what kept me as healthy as I was so that I could fight the big anti-health dragons I do today.
I hate eating alone and definitely notice that I don’t eat right when I’m alone.
You are what you eat. Are obese people free, brave, and filled with self control? Did Jesus end gluttony as a sin too? That’s a separate issue from eating unclean creatures. In addition, we have the added lure of chemical non-foods that are convenient, cheap and made to taste better. Many people don’t even know how to prepare real food anymore. If they do know how, they often don’t think it’s worth the trouble or expense. It’s easier to drive through and pick something up. I think you really hit on something here. If you are going to be a disciple, where is the best place to practice discipline? What’s on your table?
I am in a continual dance with my doctor regarding ranges of numbers that he and I associate with my internal bodily activities. Blood pressure, triglycerides, A1C and other numbers are all affected by what travels down my gullet. It seems our modern world has created somewhat of a curse. The curse being the too easily available “foods” that intrinsicly mess up all my doctor numbers. I’ve recently attacked my high numbers showing blood sugar levels. I have been aggressive in what I do and don’t eat and drink. What a huge and challenging task particularly in an opposing world of instant gratification of comfort foods!
Good grief. Forget the mountain top experiences. Simply eating and drinking in efforts to glorify YHWH IS a huge undertaking. Sometimes it exhausts me.
Its definitely basic life things. Guarding what goes in and what comes out of my mouth.
Hi, Michael!
I love how you write!
🙂
For me..Chambers expresses quite well…the true bottom line. “If you are rightly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the sublime height where no one ever thinks of noticing you, all that is noticed is that the power of God comes through you all the time.” [1] “The test of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is.” Add to that, God – in order to give us a sharp “heads up” has determined, “Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before failure.” Thank You, Father..for loving us enough to keep us in line and not become entangled in the worthless pursuit of our own self righteous religiosity – wise people see through that too and we are left alone again. We want You – simply You – please come fill us with Yourself-we are so hungry for You…whether we realize it or not.
AMEN!
“the worthless pursuit of our own self righteous religiosity…” Wow… perfectly put. Thanks.
Acts 15:20 but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;
Sexual sin mentioned once. Food mentioned 3 times. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!
And all these practices are PAGAN acts of worship. Not Torah compliance. I will write about the so-called Noachide laws soon.
I understand that but others may not.
On a personal level I’m finding out all this stuff as I go but obeying before I understand. Just saying even if they weren’t PAGAN acts of worship they would still be dietary prohibitions. Simple obedience has kept me from transgression by default on numerous occasions.
Looking forward to what you have to say about the so-called Noachide laws.
Wicked deceptions abound these days don’t they?