I am not sure that I always grasp the extent to which God and his word stand in direct contrast with the ways of man and the systems of our world today. Some might say that to live the Christian life is like swimming upstream. Others might say that a Christian should be counter-cultural.

While these descriptions are certainly correct, I’m not sure that the language is vivid enough even yet to describe how different God’s ways are from man’s ways.

I thought of that today as I read – yet again, after reading this same verse many, many times and not thinking of it this way – this verse in 1 Corinthians 10:

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Paul has explained to the Corinthians that they should not be so prideful in their insistence that they can eat food that has been sacrificed to idols. He tells the Corinthians that they should be considering others, preventing them from stumbling in their walk with Christ just by their eating, just because they have the knowledge that they can.

No, if they were to do this, they would be thinking only of themselves, and this is exactly how the world works. And this is why eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols is such a significant issue.

Yes, Paul says, it is important not to participate with idols, which are demonic in nature. It is important of course, in that case, not to eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols.

But even more important is the need to think first of the glory for God.

In the world’s way of thinking, we think of what we want. We think of what pleases us. That which makes us feel good.

We spend time on ourselves. We spend time making ourselves money. We work to build our fame, our fortune, our power. We spend time on that for which we are passionate.

Paul says, though, that if you are a believer, if you follow Christ, you think and live very differently. You live to glorify God. In this example, Paul is talking about whether or not the believers should eat meat that has been sacrificed to idols, but he is clear in his comprehensiveness of his statement: Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.

Are there ways in which that which we want can overlap with giving glory to God? Yes, of course. But frequently, like the situation with the Corinthians’ desire to eat meat, even if it has been sacrificed to idols, they need to first consider what would bring God glory. Yes, legally, they can do it. But no, it will not bring God glory. Others may stumble. Others may lose their opportunity to know Christ. Others may not be saved because of their desire to exercise their rights. And thus, we will lose our opportunity to glorify God, or for him to receive more glory because that would be one or more persons who will not worship him, who will not glorify him.

God’s way to think, to act, to live, is completely different than the world’s way, than our way. As followers of Christ, we must learn to not live for ourselves, not even just living for others, but instead living for the glory of God.