"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved."
Talk about your universal principles! All of my actions should be done to the glory of God. Should I eat that meat, drink that beverage, watch that TV show, go to that place, say that thing? Does it bring glory to God? Does it point to the excellency of His name? If so, then I can do it.
The surrounding verses address our responsibility to avoid offending people. Avoiding offense should glorify God. But verse thirty-one clarifies that avoiding offense and being people pleaser are two very different things. There is a way to avoid offending people that is motivated by a desire for them to think better of you, but that is seeking your own advantage and does not glorify God.
We should be aware of personal and cultural differences, and seeking the good of others, we should be sensitive to those differences. But there are some things in the Christian's message that are going to offend people (all people), and there is no getting around it. Avoiding offense by being unfaithful to the truth does not glorify God, but neither does offending people unnecessarily. If people are offended, they should be offended by the truth and not by you, your presentation of the truth, or your selfish desire for advancement.
1 comment:
That is very true. I was just thinking the same thing today. Keep writing people are reading.
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