In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul says, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (10:31). In the context, he’s dealing with how people engage with food offered in pagan temples. Is it okay to eat at home or not? It’s wrong, he says, to engage with the services of the temple, eating there as part of the worship—it makes you an idolater. But apart from the worship of idols, it’s just food. As long as you’re not causing a brother to stumble, it’s okay to eat.
But is Paul’s command more general than meat in pagan temples? It seems what way. “Whatever you do” seems pretty all-encompassing! But how do you eat a meal to the glory of God today? Is it just saying a prayer of thankfulness at the beginning? I didn’t really know until breakfast this morning.
I love peaches, but only if they are just right. If they are dry or hard, then I’ll pass. But when they are just right—mushy, juicy and sweet; the kind that slip off the pit and melt in your mouth. If it’s that kind of peach, then it’s my favorite fruit in the world.
And this morning I had just such a peach. I bit into the peach, I felt like a kid as the juice ran down my hand. I had to grab a napkin as bite after bite, liquid sweetness dripped from my beard and fingers. I reached the end and even gave the pit one last lick for good measure. It was quite possibly the best peach I had ever had.
And almost spontaneously, I gave thanks to God. He had made the peach. He didn’t just design it (though he did that, too). In his providence, the seed went into the ground, was cultivated, harvested, and brought to the store, where my wife encouraged my 8 year old daughter to “Pick out some good ones.” I was standing at the end of a divinely good chain of events. And I was thankful.
But I was also still hungry! The peach was over far too fast. I longed for more of this goodness that brought such satisfaction to me taste buds. I thought about grabbing another, but that same daughter was expecting one for lunch. I couldn’t have another one. And just as suddenly as I had given thanks, the Spirit brought this thought to me mind: there is One who will bring you more satisfaction. I thought of Moses’ words, which Jesus loved so much: “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Deut 8:3)—or in my case, peaches alone. God is the source of my ultimate satisfaction, and I come to feast on him through the faith-filled reception of his Word
As these thoughts ran through my head, I realized I had just eaten a peach to the glory of God. And I hope I will it again.
MAGNIFY CHRIST 