JAMES A.E. MACLELLAN: Enjoying the World without being Worldly

Friday, July 26, 2013

Enjoying the World without being Worldly - Final

The final question to ask when making decisions that appear to be morally neutral is Does It Glorify God? Our Christian liberty comes to an end if we engage in something where we fail to glorify God. Now this sounds like a great Christian concept. Often we pray that God would be glorified in our lives and our activities. But what does that mean? What does it mean in practical terms? Clearly the Bible teaches that in everything we do we have the potential to glorify God or not.

“Glory” in the Old Testament is associated with value, riches, splendor, and dignity. When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God revealed to Moses something of His nature, character, and power.   “Hallowed be Your name” in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9) expresses the desire that God will be revered and praised in a way that honors and reveals His glory.

Paul helps us in Philippians 1:20 (ESV) when he writes, “²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”   That word “honored” is the Greek word μεγαλύνω [pronounced meg·al·oo·no/].   It’s a word that can mean: make conspicuous; to magnify; or to celebrate and praise.^{^[1]}

When we live in such a way that our love and trust in God is obvious, noticeable, we glorify Him. When we live in dependence on Him, we glorify Him. When we constantly draw from His vast resources of grace, we glorify Him. We glorify Him in the large life-and-death issues and we can glorify Him in the mundane. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)

How do we glorify God in our eating? When we see our “daily bread” as a gracious provision from His hand and we are content, we glorify Him. How do we glorify God at our job? When we see again His provision of work and His promise to sustain us in our labor; and when we live in faith on His power, we glorify Him.

In Summary:

How do we enjoy all the great blessings that God has given us? How do we live in this world – especially this prosperous and wealthy western world, enjoy it without guilt and yet use it in a way that pleases God?   Paul gives us 6 questions to consider: