It’s not enough to do whatever I do with all of my might.
A Framework for Faith/Spiritual Practices
Unceasing devotion. Obedience without murmuring. Simplicity in dress. Fasting, but not such as would be harmful. Exile without return. Living a life devoid of trifles…
– Sinchell the Younger, Testimony to the Monastery (Irish, 6th century)
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
– 1 Corinthians 10.31
As a kid I worked for a season for a man I greatly admired. He believed in young men and tried to help them every way he could. He used to have a saying which I’m sure I’ll never forget: “Whatever you do, do with all of your might; things done by halves are never done right.”
I think of that saying every time I come to 1 Corinthians 10.31. It’s not enough to do whatever I do with all of my might. That won’t glorify God. Whatever I do is to be done in His power, according to His Word, in pursuit of His Kingdom, and by the filling of His Spirit. Then and only then is He likely to get any glory in whatever I do.
And that means, “whatever.” Sinchell the Younger taught his monks that they must not live trifling lives. The days are evil; spiritual forces of wickedness in high places are ever poised to poison the way we use our time, invest our minds, engage our tongues, spend our money, and “whatever” else we choose to do as well.
But is it really possible to glorify God in all the “whatevers” of our lives? It must be, or Paul would not expect it of us. Imagine! That something of the majesty, loveliness, graciousness, mercy, steadfastness, purity, goodness, and truth of God might be displayed through the “whatevers” of my life!
It makes me want to focus more carefully on “whatever” I’m doing, so that I do it as unto the Lord, for His pleasure, and not just “with all of my might.” Things done without a consciousness of the opportunity we have, in all the “whatevers” of our lives, to bring glory and honor to God, are never going to be right, no matter how hard we try.
Present your life – all of it, because everything matters – to God. Do not yield a moment nor an ounce of strength to things trifling. Everything matters, because everything can show our glorious God to the people around us each day.
Knowing that it’s possible, should we not seek to glorify God with all of His might?
Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe
Wisconsin’s Democratic senators aren’t really afraid of democracy. They scorn it, as ReVision explains.
Are you going to let another St. Patrick’s Day go by without (a) learning something more about one of the greatest Christians of all time, and (b) without correcting someone’s frivolous ideas about this great hero of the Gospel? Well, I didn’t think so! So order up your copies of The Legacy of Patrick today, so that you’ll have them in time to give to friends in celebration of Patrick’s day.
Watch our Mentoring page for information on some new offerings, starting in two weeks.
T. M. Moore, tmmoore@ailbe.org
