Economic Growth (5)
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.1 Corinthians 10.31
Compartmental lives
Many Christians live a compartmentalized experience of following Jesus.
That is, they have reserved room in their lives and schedules where Christian things like worship and fellowship and Bible learning are appropriate; and then there are rooms in their lives and schedules where such matters don’t seem to be particularly relevant.
Thus, we think about our faith and the Lord when we’re at church, or with our Bible study group, or in some other church activity, or while we’re reading Scripture and praying. But when we head out into the everyday, workaday world of people and culture and things to do, somehow our Christian faith doesn’t seem to apply. Not consciously and deliberately. Not with a view to building a new economy of grace to replace that of getting and spending and self. For most of us, God and His will have a place in such everyday compartments, but not primacy of place, not a defining or transforming place. As long as we live compartmentalized lives, we will not experience the presence, promise, or power of the Kingdom in the ways God intends.
But the Kingdom economy of our Lord knows no compartments, save that of the glory of God in “whatever you do”.
Some questions
In your own experience, for example, how often during the day do you find yourself contemplating the glory of God in the midst of some everyday situation, or while pondering some ordinary thing? Do you frequently sense the Presence of the Lord while you’re at work, or as you’re taking care of your lawn, shopping for groceries, or preparing the evening meal? Are you continually aware that all your conversations, no matter how trivial, are fraught with opportunities to speak Jesus to others? And that He is present in them all, attending to every word, and eager to fill your words with Himself?
Probably most of us would answer these questions with a tentative, “Sometimes”. Sadly, the world is the world and our faith is our faith, and seldom do the twain meet.
But in these last days, as God is unfolding the Kingdom of His dear Son in, through, and around us, everything matters, and everything that comes into our hands or purview is an opportunity for advancing the Kingdom economy of God, for bringing grace and joy into our part of the world.
Paul wrote that even such everyday activities as eating and drinking can, and should, be done with a view to glorifying God, showing Him to others in every aspect of our demeanor. In the Kingdom economy, as we pursue our Kingdom-and-glory calling from the Lord, we must remember that God has subjected everything to His redeemed people, and He calls us to receive everything as a gift and to use it for His honor and glory (Heb. 2.5-8).
Stewards of everything
We are stewards of everything God puts into our hands—all our time, possessions, relationships, work, resources, and opportunities. We are called to spend and invest the grace of God, according to His Word, in every one of these areas and activities.
As we have seen, God calls us to make the best use of our time, and all the work we do in our time, as agents of grace, truth, and justice, so that the purposes of His Kingdom go forward and the light of Christ advances against the darkness of the sinful world (Eph. 5.15-17; 1 Jn. 2.8).
We will find that, the more we strive to grow in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to know His Presence with us throughout the day; and the more we learn to stretch out beyond the limits of our experience into the richer, fuller life of God’s Spirit, this calling to do everything to the glory of God will not be as difficult or daunting as it might seem.
In 1 Corinthians 10.31-11.1, Paul gives us some practical guidance on how we can make sure that everything in our lives matters for advancing the divine economy on earth as it is in heaven. First, he says, work hard not to offend others by your demeanor or conversation (v. 32). If we can learn to speak winsomely and in an edifying manner, and to overcome offensive habits or ways, others will begin to see us in a different light, and will enjoy our presence more.
Second, Paul writes, work hard to please others—not, of course in any way that compromises our most basic convictions, but so that we try to meet their needs and serve them as Jesus would (v. 33). We must guard against always thinking about ourselves, in other words; look to the interests of others before our own.
Third, watch for open doors to talk about the Lord (v. 33). Evangelism is a process, not an event. You don’t have to share the whole Gospel at every opportunity; instead, work to get a start on or participate in conversations that you can continue and expand on subsequent occasions.
Finally, try to live like the apostles did (11.1)—humbly, as good stewards, eager to grow in the Lord and His holiness, looking to serve others by every possible means, committed to being witnesses for Christ in every aspect of your life.
Our lives and everything in them will begin to matter more for the divine economy if we can learn to follow Paul’s counsel in exercising the dominion of Christ over everything in our lives, for the glory of God and the progress of His Kingdom. A new economy—the divine economy—comes into being person by person, situation by situation, glory to glory, as believers in Jesus realize the difference He makes in all the everyday situations and duties of our day.
For reflection or discussion
1. What do we mean by saying that many Christians live “compartmentalized” lives? How does this happen?
2. Why does everything matter in the divine economy? Can you give some examples?
3. We are stewards of everything God puts into our hands—all our time, possessions, relationships, work, resources, and opportunities. What does it mean to glorify God in such matters?
Next steps—Transformation: What’s one thing you could begin to do that would enable you to make better use of the time God gives you for advancing His economy in your life?
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast pushes on through our readings from Joy to Your World!. Our Crosfigell teaching letter continues its brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. In our daily Scriptorium column, we are working our way through Matthew’s gospel, studying the coming of the Kingdom of God. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
