Give Thanks before a Meal for the Glory of God

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”
(1 Corinthians 10:31NLT)

Many of our meals are rushed. Many of our meals are accompanied with long phone calls and distracted meetings. Many of them take place in the midst of pressures and activities that demand our attention. And many times we’re with people who are non-Christian who observed everything about us even the way we eat our meals (Yes, if you’re a Malaysian, they are observing you… secretly). We might not realize that by saying grace before a meal can affect the way they see and judged our faith. This attitude of saying grace before meal is not supposed to be observe as a law but as a Christian discipline that we should cultivate with joyful-obedience (together with everything else that we do).

Paul writes to Christian at Corinth, which majority of the people around them were pagan worshippers non-believers, this word of command from the Lord: “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”. Have we considered eating and drinking for the glory of God? Do we see that the act of eating and drinking (or whatever) are sacred act that have potential to shine out the glory to God the same as playing music or singing hymn or preaching the Word at the church? Paul said – whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Now, come back to the topic of give thanks before a meal (for this is one of the many ways to obey 1 Corinthians 10:31 in our lives). How about next time, before a meal; pause for a moment of quiet to give thanks to God for His provision. Offer simple words of gratitude prayer. During FES national staff retreat at Frazer’s Hill, Pahang last year, our guest speaker teaches us about spiritual disciplines. Just before our lunch he encouraged us to give thank for “…the farmers who grew the food, the earth that produced it, the workers who harvest it, the cook who prepared it, the people you’re sharing it with, your good fortune and health”. He later noted that: “What we eat is often provided by people who have very little compared to us. So give thanks”.

Give thanks before a meal. Do it for the glory of God. Take time for gratitude prayer creates space to remember all that we have to be thankful for. And who know by God’s grace those who see you doing it may consider your faith. They may ask, “Excuse me, can you tell me what make you different?” and you share them about Christ.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.