I belong to a ministry (and group of friends) that make it a point to break down a chapter of the Bible via email. We assign a verse to a date and then to a member of the group. Then we each take turns breaking down and sharing what the Lord is speaking to us in the order of the list. We take our time and spend about a month on one verse.
18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
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If you’d like to read more about the background of this chapter, check out this commentary by Matthew Henry. Essentially, Paul is writing different groups of believers within the church and pointing out errors in the way that they might be living, versus how he lives; telling them how we all should follow his example, in Christ.
But verse 19 nearly jumped off the page… “Their God is their stomach and their glory is their shame.” What does that even mean…glory is their shame? So I signed up for the verse.
I think it’s clear that it means that some of us listen to the demand of our appetites more than anything else. –What we crave, what we want, etc. Some of us are hell bent on something even if it will only bring our destruction, ahem shame.
But it also speaks to me about something else. You might want to sit down. (But go ahead and refill your coffee first.)
You will find many posts here as I have grown [am growing] through my own past of insecurity and shame. I have come a long way, Praise God! I still slip up every now and then but this area is a default setting for me. So the minute something (could be anything) in my life gets out of whack, this is the area that surfaces. It could just be a lack of sleep, or starting something new. And BOOM- It seems like I try to go back here.
Just to give you a glimpse of what that looks like when it’s active; I will doubt who I am, what I have to offer, apologizing for ridiculous things and then even if you compliment me, I come back with a criticism about myself to offset it. People Pleasing can also a factor here.
Anyway, we sometimes trick ourselves into believing that these little characteristics I just mentioned are not a big deal or are some form of humility. Ya know, thinking less of self or not boasting about all the things that we do right and trying to put others first. –But I assure you, that it comes back to the root of our ego. Real humility involves not thinking about yourself at all, good thoughts or bad. This verse speaks right to that area!
So when Paul says “Their God is their stomach” he’s saying, what is the appetite or driver in your life? What is the thing that you are trying to satisfy every day when you get up? Is it drawing closer to God, some status or possession, or is it your appetite for validation by others, approval addiction, satisfaction in self, etc.? And you can say that it is to Glorify God but what pops up more in your conversations or in your thoughts? Take inventory. You might have something completely different. Who comes up more, you or him?
“Their Glory is their shame” - When you and I have to constantly put ourselves out there; be it boasting about our successes, or criticizing self, even if it’s not intended so that people build you up, you are putting your self out there. Always bringing attention back to you or the sin or the “thing”. In this case, shame has gotten a lot of “glory” in my life. But what about you? What in your life, gets the glory that will ultimately cause you shame? When in fact, we should be bringing all glory to God, what he is doing and has already done.
“Their mind is set on earthly things” You and I can be so worried about what other people think that we lose sight of who we are. –or were made to be. Some of us grow up that way and we don’t even know that we’re not being true to ourselves. –We’re so accustomed to being what everyone else thinks that we should be [or the opposite of what they think we should be] that we don’t even know we’re “outside of the mold” of our lives. Be it success, goals, what you wear, how you spend your time….
I have always felt “different”. I am betting that you have too. Do you know why? -Because we are! We are not made to do the same things or to think the same way. When I let a situation on earth define me or when I compare myself to people on earth, I lose sight of my differences. And truthfully, this is when I feel most insecure. When I set my mind on why God would have created me or how I can use what my differences are, it gives me a purpose. –One that makes me feel unique and like I have something to offer. The hard part here is in that transition phase of “trying to embrace unique” when you don’t really know how or where to apply it…
I wouldn’t be doing you any favors if I didn’t share with you how I have gotten through it [at least to where I am now]. So if you feel like you need that, check out the section of this post about deepening your personal relationship or stepping out in faith.
Remember the very first line in our verse starts with “Their destiny is their destruction”. God promises that HE has a plan for you that will prosper you. He doesn’t say that everyone else‘s plan(s) will do so. He also tells us that while you might plan your way, He orders your steps if you turn to Him, not those you’re beside. When you take your eyes off of him, even for the most accidental, naïve and even sincere purposes, it can lead to your destruction.
And if it’s not what God had planned for you, I hate to tell you friend but it is sin. It’s not a matter of your intentions. It’s a matter of purpose. This part is going to hurt but if you’re not living for the purpose you were made, then you are what verse 18 called an enemy of the Cross. Ouch! I know…
I also know that this ending might sound a little bit more discouraging or scary, rather than uplifting. –But don’t overcomplicate how easy it is to let Christ shape your life. I mean think of flowers in a field. They only have to rise and face the sun. It’s His light and His provision that helps them blossom. It is the same for you and I. Look to and reach for His ways. He will do everything else, in His time.
