7.17.25 ~ Garbage In, Garbage Out

Good morning!

In this week's Torah portion, Pinchas, we find Paul's words of 1 Corinthians 10:31 modeled in the life of Pinchas and the daughters of Zelophehad (Num. 25 & 27).

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor. 10:31)

We, speaking of me, myself and I, have a difficult time understanding Pinchas zealous act of killing Cozbi and Zimri (Num. 25:6-9) or the boldness of the daughters of Zelophehad to openly pursue their inheritance in the Land (Num. 27:1-4). Consequently, Paul's 'whatever you do' statement, too often, gets left in the realm of the intellect.

The context, context, context of Paul's statement focuses on running the race after the pattern of the Israelite journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (1 Cor. 9:22-10:12). As he modeled, he's employing the Corinthians to live in such a way that they are not disqualified from receiving the incorruptible crown; the high calling of our inheritance that God has for each one of us in Messiah (1 Cor. 9:25-27).

It's all about making life relevant 24/6 and then resting and rejoicing in it on day 7 :-)...shabbat is coming :-). Simply put, If we are not relevant to the Kingdom, we are not relevant at all (Matt. 6:33)...that summarizes everything doesn't it?

Whether we are a business owner, an employee, a student, parent or child, when you have 'skin' in the game, whatever we are doing, we put our everything into it. Paul drives home his point by picking the two things that are basic to life itself – eating and drinking; two things we live for.  Since he chooses the most fundamental, non-negotiables in life, how can anything else be exempt?

None of us will disagree – especially among our fellow believers.  We know the game. We know the lingo. We know the protocol. On Shabbat, or your weekly gatherings, we espouse the formal stipulations of the faith.  Of course we live for our Messiah, Yeshua.  But the 1 Corinthian 10:31 truth really manifests itself on Sunday-Friday, doesn't it?

Each day, we need to speak and act with laser focus, for the glory of God. I'm pretty confident, if we take this approach that some choices of tone, vocabulary, content and actions are going to have to be 'double flushed'.

On this 47th day of counting towards the first fruit of the wine, let's have a Kingdom perspective in the 'whatevers of life'.  The Lord/Yahweh arranges life, not us. All of our complaints are voiced against Him, ultimately (think about that again).  Don’t like your job?  Have you asked Yahweh to reveal to you your Kingdom role exactly where you are?  Don't like your marriage...Don't like your body...Don't like...in every area of life you get to decide what you allow into the visual and auditory cortex, based on Kingdom concerns.  As Zig Ziglar, of blessed memory would say, Garbage in – garbage out.

There are no exceptions, and, no, you are not so smart and so powerful that you can handle the exposure without effect.  Today, you’ll get to drive (or travel) for the glory of God.  You might play a round of golf to His glory (wouldn’t that be different?).  You’ll interact with children and adults, and be asked to think of them as Yahweh does.  You’ll confront sorrow, need and pain – and you will remember that the Kingdom is for “the least of these (Matt. 25:40).”

Suppose Paul made his remark as a negative, rather than a positive, statement.  Suppose he said, “Whatever you do not do to the glory of God has no value in the Kingdom.”  If you eat without recognizing the provision of Yahweh, you sin (Deut. 8:10).  If you drink without acknowledging the compassion of Yahweh, you sin (1 Jn. 3:4).  Anything you do that does not display the character of the Creator, through faith, is sin (Rom. 14:23).  The Kingdom focuses on every act, every thought and every word in the life of the believer.  Nothing idle gets by (Matt. 12:36,37).

Now that we've been reminded of what we already know, what will today be like?  Will the "whatever you do" have Yahweh’s glory in mind? May it be so of each of us!

Shalom,
Alan

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