Paul writes, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Here Paul says that the Christian must do everything, even the routine items of daily life, in such a way that God, not man, is honored. Such an action requires a constant dedication of all the powers of mind and body to Him, and daily surrender of all one’s being to His Spirit (Prov. 18:10; 1 Cor. 15:31; 2 Cor. 4:10; Col. 3:17).
The immediate application in this verse is to the question of eating or drinking that has part in idol worship, but the general application has to do with food and drink of all kinds. Men are given the power of choice, but the Christian will exercise his choice at all times in a way that meets with the approval of God.
Food and drink are essential in the preservation of health. Many sicknesses that affect humanity are due to errors in diet. God asks men to care for their bodies and to keep them fit to be temples of His Spirit “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). Christians must learn how to select food and drink that will not harm the body, but will enhance both their mental and physical health.
The ancient Israelites were promised that God would preserve them in health if they would obey His commands (Ex. 15:26; Deut. 7:12–15; ch. 28:58–61). And the same promise is given to people today if they will follow God’s instructions and take into their bodies only those things that are in harmony with His laws (Gen. 1:29; 3:18; Lev. 11:2–31; Eccl. 10:17; 1 Cor. 10:6). The Christian ideal is the original diet provided by the Creator in Eden (Gen. 1:29).
The first sin that was ever committed by humans had to do with controlling the appetite to food (Genesis 3:6). And in order to win the battle over sin, Christ had to overcome that same temptation and He fasted 40 days to gives us the victory (Matthew 4:1,2).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
