Reference: I Peter 4:14-16 and Matthew 5:16
The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 10:31that whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to theglory of God.
Please notice that Paul the apostle istelling us that whatever we may attempt to do that we are to do it to the gloryof God. Now have you wondered about what you are doing whether or not you doit......for the sole purpose of glorifying the Heavenly Father?
Just what is it that you are doing myfriend? Now if we don't know just exactly what it means to glorify God, thenit's very possible that we are not glorifying him like we are told to do. Nowaccording to what Paul tells us in ICorinthians 10:31 then we canglorify God in what we may eat and drink.
To glorify God of course means to givehonour and glory to God in whatever thing we may do. I would say that there aremany people who think that the only way to glorify God is to scream out praisewith their mouth, but this is not the only way nor the best way to give gloryunto God. I certainly believe that we are to give praise and glory to God withour lips, but this only would not be glorifying God to the fullest extent.
We give God glory by doing things thatplease him. No matter what we do, we should do it in the manner that we wouldplease God. If we think or believe that we may be doing something in a way thatwould please God, then we should do it in a way that God wants it done.
This is how we glorify God in whatsoeverthat we may do. Please notice in our text of IPeter 4:14-16 that we are toldthat we glorify God if we are reproached for the name of Christ. To bereproached for the name of Christ simply means to be hated or despised by evilmen who utterly hate anything that's good or right.
We are also told by Christ himself that aperson is blessed if they are reviled and persecuted for his name sake. God ishighly glorified by those who are hated and despised for the sake of the gospelof Jesus Christ. Peter tells us in our text that when a person is reproachedfor the name of Christ that on their part, who spoke evil of you, he is evilspoken of, but on our part he is glorified. God is glorified when we are evilspoken of if it's for the cause and sake of the gospel and of Christ.
If a person will live a godly life, thenaccording to God's word, they will be hated and persecuted, but thispersecution will prove that you will do things to please the Father. God isglorified because you would be doing things that will prove you are wanting toglorify him. You can't glorify God by doing things the way you want to do it.
Please notice that Paul makes a verypenetrating statement when he said that whatsoever we do that we are to do itto the glory of God. Now this opens up a vast range of possible works that aperson can get involved in as long as we do the things that will glorify God.Jesus told us to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our goodworks, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. Now just what are these worksthat Jesus is speaking of here that we are to have that will glorify theFather?
If we will remember the fact that allscripture is inspired of God, and to instruct us in all righteousenss that theman of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works, then we willunderstand that whatsoever we desire to do must be for the cause and sake ofinstructing a person in a righteous way of life.
Now there are many people in the worldtoday doing many things thinking that they are doing it for the sake of Christ.Some people are involved in giving great sums of money to differentorganizations so that they can build churches. Others have hospitals and otherfacilities built thinking this is contributing to the cause of Christ and thegospel.
One thing is for sure and that is thatwhat thing we may do we must do it for God's glory and not for our own glory.Now I would say that most people are doing many things not for God's glory, butrather it's for their own glory. Jesus said that many people love the praise ofman more than the praises of God. Many of these people are being deceivedthinking they are glorifying God when actually they are only doing things to beseen of men.
Now there are many things a person can dothat will glorify God, but unless we do it for the sole purpose of glorifyingGod, then we would be involved in things that absolutely will not be blessed ofGod and prosper.
If you have a desire to get involved insome kind of work, then it must be done for the sole purpose of glorifyingAlmighty God. Many people who think they are doing great things for the causeof Christ will hear Jesus say that they were never known of him. Jesus saidthat many in the last day will boast of their wonderful works, but it will allbe in vain simply because they failed to receive the truth and walk in thelight of it. Just look at all the churches in the land today confessing to beof God. They have all kinds of different activities among them, but what arethey doing with the truth of God's word? They will absolutely blaspheme itcalling it of the devil.
The average person today who confesses tobe a christian is in reality bringing God down to the level of man. Listeningto most confessing christian's conversations and testimony will lead a personto think that God has no more power than a puny man.
Most of them will scream glory to God fromone side of their mouth and from the other side they deny his power altogether.There are two things that the world says that God can't do, which is to lie andto fail, but there is also another thing they say he can't do which proves themto be deniers of the power of God. This other thing is saying that nobody canlive without sin.
This is denying the power of God becausewe are told in God's word that we are kept by the power of God through faith.
We are told to hold fast our profession offaith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised, but listening tomodern christianity today is leading many people to think and believe that Godis dead.
Many people think that God is dead simply becausechristianity is dead. Although many are involved in many different works thisin no wise proves that they are doing it for the sake of the gospel.
Jesus said that many worship him in vainand yet give honour to him with their lips. This is very true today. Manypeople say with their mouth that they are christians, but fail to receive hisword and obey it. To the carnal mind the many things that the churches areinvolved in today may look real good, but when it comes to the truth theyabsolutely will not receive it. Their works are to their own glory and not toGod's....