“So whether you eat or drink of whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31
Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel, perhaps the greatest Reformation musicians, wrote on each of their pieces, “Soli Dei Gloria.” This does not mean (as some suppose) simply that our music should praise God. It also means that what we produce, what we work for, what we do in life should glorify God. If you look at the lives of Handel and Bach they were prolific. Their work was not simply motivated by money (though Handel sometimes appears to be the merchant) but their inspiration was purposeful. They lived on- purpose lives- writing music to honor God.
To Glorify God is to have a purpose. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man? The answer is "To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." The Reformation brought a supreme sense that we are not to glorify the saints, or the church, or the Pope, but we should glorify God alone. This singleness of heart and purpose brought about the Protestant work ethic- a motivation to do even small things (washing dishes, taking out the trash) to the glory of God. Today we are missing that direction, meaning and purpose in life (and even in church life).
Prayer: May my work, my song, my art, my
love, my life honor you and you alone, O Lord.
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