WHY?

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Considered perhaps the greatest guitarist alive, Christopher Parkening appeared to have it all. Signed to an international recording deal as a teenager, Parkening traveled across the world playing beautiful music. But by the age of 30, having achieved all the musical success he could ever imagine, Parkening felt empty. He was tired of touring and wanted to take a break from the rigors associated  . Parkening ultimately decided to move to Montana and took up fly-fishing as a hobby.

Soon Parkening was not only one of the greatest guitarists in the world, but also a world-class fly fisherman, with all the money and time he could ever want. And yet, despite all his success, his life was empty.

He wrote: “If you arrive at a point in your life where you have everything that you’ve ever wanted and thought would make you happy and it still doesn’t, then you start questioning things. It’s the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”

At this point, Parkening began to wonder if anything could fulfill the deep longings of his heart. Around this time, while visiting friends, Parkening attended church. During the service, Parkening was struck by 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

He explains, “I realized there were only two things I knew how to do: fly fish for trout and play the guitar. Well, I am playing the guitar today absolutely by the grace of God. . . . I have a joy, a peace, and a deep-down fulfillment in my life I never had before. My life has purpose. . . . I’ve learned first-hand the true secret of genuine happiness.” Now Parkening teaches classical guitar to students at Pepperdine University, but instead of doing it for himself, he now has the opportunity to do it all for the glory of God.

The Glory Of God

The overriding “Why?” in our lives must be “the glory of God”.

The word glorify means “to reveal or make clear.”

There is no greater or higher purpose in life than “the glory of God”.

Society tells us to glorify ourselves, gain followers, get likes, and love. We use entertainment, fashion, and even education to elevate ourselves.

Romans 1:21–23 KJV 1900

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Even among believers there is often an underhanded posturing that promotes one above another as Paul discusses in Corinthians.

Ronald Reagan, told the following story: “I once addressed a very large, distinguished audience in Mexico City and sat down to rather scattered and unenthusiastic applause. And I was somewhat embarrassed, even more so when the next man who spoke, a representative of the Mexican government speaking in Spanish, which I don’t understand, was being interrupted virtually every other line with the most enthusiastic kind of applause. To hide my embarrassment, I started clapping before anyone else and longer than anyone else until our ambassador leaned over and said to me, ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you; he’s interpreting your speech.’”

However as believers our greatest desire should, and must be that God would be glorified… that people would see Jesus more clearly for having come across our path.

What Glorifies God?

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Obviously all things we do can and should glorify God if we are living for Him, but here are somethings that should help us along the way.

Spiritual Fruit

John 15:4–8 KJV 1900

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

The fruit of our lives either helps people see Christ more clearly or distracts them from seeing Jesus.

We bear no fruit of ourselves, whether that be the fruit of the Spirit or souls saved, except we abide in the vine. Nothing we do is of or by ourselves, it is all of and by Him.

Galatians 5:19–23 KJV 1900

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Obviously the fruit of our natural spirit looks nothing like the fruit that only the Spirit can produce in our lives.

Psalm 126:5–6 KJV 1900

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

It is only the Spirit which can produce the compassion which compels us to reach other with the gospel which glorifies God.

Good Works

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A man appears before the pearly gates. “Have you ever done anything of particular merit?” St. Peter asks.

“Well, I can think of one thing….” the man offers. “Once I came upon a gang of high-testosterone bikers who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn’t listen. So I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker. I smacked him on the head, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring and threw it on the ground, and told him, ‘Leave her alone now or you’ll answer to me.'”

St. Peter was impressed. “When did this happen?”

“A couple of minutes ago.”

We are to allow our light to shine. What is that light?

John 1:5 KJV 1900

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Jesus is the light in us that we are to allow to shine through to the world. How does it work? Jesus shines on our good works and the world glorifies God. Sometimes it is a good action… sometimes it is as simple as a good reaction to a trial or tribulation we are facing.

Continual Praise

Psalm 22:23 KJV 1900

Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; And fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

We should not be able to shut up about God’s goodness in our lives. We should continually praise God simply out of gratitude for what He has done in our lives.

Generosity

1 Chronicles 16:29 KJV 1900

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

When we give we are declaring the value we feel God has in our lives thereby giving God glory. It is not so much, or really at all, how much we put in the offering as much as it is how much we have the ability to put in versus how much we do?

When God’s Glory Moves Us We

Do Our Best

We dig a little deeper and try a little harder. We don’t just try we put our very best effort forth.

Live Honestly

God already knows anyways… so we are transparent with God and our effort. We do not compartmentalize our lives into work, church, home, and entertainment.

Desire To Do Righteously

We don’t simply do what we feel is best for us, we do what is best for God and His glory. We aren’t concerned with getting by or what we can get away with, we want to do what is right or best.

Are Consumed For Christ

John 3:30 KJV 1900

He must increase, but I must decrease.

A missions director once met with the mother of one of his agency’s missionaries and spent some time getting to know her. She prepared tea for the director in her parlor and as they drank the tea, she explained to him the difficulty of having a daughter on the mission field of China and a son as a missionary in Sudan. She loved and missed them dearly, but as she explained, her love for God allowed her to let them follow His will for their lives. The mother went on to describe the burden her son had for the Sudanese people. Her relay of his description of the people brought her to tears several times during the conversation. The missions director left her house with a deeper appreciation for the parents of missionaries and a greater burden for the country of Sudan.

A few months later the missions director got word that a missionary in Sudan had been killed—it was the Scottish lady’s son. Feeling he should be the one to break the news to her, he once again visited the mother in her home. After telling her the tragic news, the mother looked down, and in a few moments of composure she said, “Sir, I would rather have my son die in the middle of Sudan, alone, than to have him living here with me, disobeying God’s will.”

Living for God’s glory means we are willing to be used up for the cause of Christ. Not only are we willing, but we find it a joy to be consumed for Christ.

Is It All About God’s Glory For You?

Can you truly, in good conscience, say you can do everything you are doing in your life right now to the glory of God?

Are there some things in your life that if you were honest you would have to say don’t glorify God.

Are there any areas where you are preventing the Holy Spirit from bearing fruit in your lives?

Making time for soul-winning, trusting God in the midst of trials etc.

Do you point all the praise to God?

We should be accepting praise since anything good we have done in our lives has been the result of God’s grace and Christ’s shed blood.

Are you honest enough to see the areas in your life where you need to grow?

Are you doing all things for God’s glory?

The Baptist preacher Dr. George W. Truett accepted an invitation from a church to preach the dedication sermon for their new building. He arrived at the church about ten minutes before the service started, and was told that the church needed to raise $6,500 by the next day in order to finish paying for the building. The church officers told him that they were depending on him to raise the money.

Dr. Truett preached the sermon then said, “These men bid me to tell you that you must give $6,500 in cash, which is all due tomorrow. Will you provide it?”

After Dr. Truett’s appeal, began the slowest, most reluctant, most Christ-shaming offering he had ever witnessed. After thirty minutes they had $3,000—not even half of what they needed. Dr. Truett said, “What do you expect of me? I am your guest. I do not happen to have the other $3,500. What do you expect of me?”

A little woman rose and addressed her husband who was at the front of the church recording what was given. With pathos in her voice she said, “Charley, I have wondered if you would be willing for us to give our little cottage just paid out of debt. We were offered $3,500 in cash for it yesterday. We were told we could get it at the bank any time in ten days, if we chose to make the trade.

“Charley, I have wondered if you would be willing for us to give our little house to Christ, that His house may be free. When we remember, Charley, that Christ gave His life for us, I wonder if we ought not to give this little house to Him.”

Charlie responded in the same spirit, “Jennie, dear, I was thinking of the same thing. We will give $3,500.”

Silence reigned for a minute and then grown men began sobbing, and almost in a moment that $3,500 was given by men and women who for the last half hour had either refused to give or had given grudgingly.

Many visitors had come for the special service, and before an invitation was given men and women came down every aisle in the church wanting to be saved.

The gratefulness of that one couple for what the Lord had done for them and their desire to give to Him prompted others to give and many to get saved.