Everyday worship

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10.31

From David King

When my Dad and I went walking in the Lake District or Scotland, we had very different approaches. For me it was all about proving myself against the mountain- pushing hard through tiredness – making sure that we were never overtaken by other walkers! My Dad liked to enjoy the views (I always thought that that was a pretty transparent attempt to hide the fact that he needed a breather). Every once in a while though, I would listen to him and look up. It was always a striking experience. I would go from being focused on the next two metres of path to suddenly have my breath taken away by sky, ridges, rocky outcrops, stretches of water, a bird in flight.

1 Corinthians 10.31 is a bit like that. Paul has been involved in quite a detailed theological discussion around eating food offered to idols. It is really very practical (for us today as much as Christians then), but it is careful and detailed – like focusing on the next step of the path. Verse 31 starts out with that tight focus. But rather than following “Whether you eat or drink” with “or not”, Paul suddenly says, “or whatever you do”. Suddenly he switches from discussing particular eating arrangements to encompassing the whole of the Christian’s life.

Paul’s point here is not just that the Corinthian Christians should seek to glorify God in what they eat, but that every moment, every action, however small or common is to be done for the glory of God. Think about that. Think about how it ennobles every task you might do – however small.

So this week, try this: each day choose one ordinary task you will do – take the rubbish out, do the washing up, get in the car to go to work, open your text book, take the dog for a walk, drive a child to school – the more ordinary the better. Then once you’ve chosen it, pray this, “Father may I do this to your glory, may what I do delight you, not just in what I do, but how I go about it.”