As a younger man, I interpreted Paul’s admonition whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God, as a license to enjoy a second piece of pie. If eating for the glory of God, then eat gloriously, and nothing tastes more glorious than dessert.

However, my theology of dessert crumbles upon closer study. Paul actually points in the opposite direction. Rather than indulging my freedoms as a follower of Jesus, I’m to govern my freedoms in light of those around me:

Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Seek the good of others. I might feel free eating and drinking anything, but if my choices edge a follower of Jesus off the straight and narrow, or add rocks to the path of someone struggling with the whole God-thing, then my freedom bucks the kingdom of God.

Moving from getting to giving. Sounds simplistic, but so challenging to practice. Handed to Moses on stone tablets, preached by Jesus and echoed here by Paul, this idea of seeking the good of others lies at the core of a lived faith.

Ask the Lord right now, where might I move from getting to giving? Where should I seek the good of others so that they may move closer to you?

Like pie, our faith is sweeter when shared.

I Corinthians 10 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022.

Photo by Didi Miam