Freedom, Food, and God’s Glory: Learning to Live 1 Corinthians 10:23–33
STICKY TRUTH
“My freedom is real, but love teaches me when to lay it down—for God’s glory and another’s good.”
Food doesn’t define me. Shame doesn’t control me. Gratitude reframes even the smallest act of eating into worship. And in Christ, even the way I eat and care for my body can point to His goodness and glory.
I’ve known for years that I want to glorify God with my life. I’ve wanted my words, my ministry, my relationships to reflect Him. But if I’m honest, I never thought much about how something as ordinary as food or my body had anything to do with His glory.
And yet, the Word of God has a way of pressing into the very places we’ve kept off-limits. Recently, I’ve been sitting with 1 Corinthians 10:23–33, and it’s shifting the way I see not just what I eat, but why I eat, and Who I’m eating for.
When Freedom Feels Complicated
Paul writes:
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” (vv. 23–24)
The Corinthian church was arguing over whether it was okay to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Their question wasn’t really about food—it was about freedom. If I’m free in Christ, does it matter what I eat? And if it does matter, how far do I go to protect someone else’s conscience?
Paul’s answer is so relevant for us today: freedom isn’t about doing whatever I want—it’s about living in such a way that every choice builds others up and glorifies God.
But What About Eating Disorders?
When I read these verses through the lens of body image and food struggles, I see myself. I see the times I’ve let shame dictate my choices. I see the years of believing food was the enemy, or that my body’s worth hinged on how disciplined I was.
Paul says in verse 26: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” That includes food. That includes my body. Eating itself is not sinful. In fact, when received with gratitude, it’s an act of worship.
So why, then, do I still struggle to apply this truth? Why do I keep forgetting to glorify God in these everyday choices?
The Gap Between Knowing and Living
Here’s what the Lord has been showing me:
Old Patterns Run Deep. My brain has default pathways—it goes to shame, fear, or control before it pauses to pray. That doesn’t mean I don’t love Jesus; it means I’m still being renewed day by day (Romans 12:2).
Shame is a Thief. When I act out of shame, I hide or numb instead of walking in freedom. Paul reminds me in v. 30 that if I eat with thankfulness, I cannot be condemned for it. Gratitude silences shame.
Idols Sneak In. Without realizing it, food and body image sometimes become little lords of my life. They promise comfort or control, but they never deliver. Christ alone is my Lord.
Application Requires Awareness. It’s not that I don’t care—it’s that I don’t pause. The Spirit keeps nudging me to slow down enough to notice: “Will this glorify God?”
The Spirit in the Gap
Paul closes with this sweeping truth:
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God…not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” (vv. 31, 33)
I love that God cares enough to step into the ordinary—into meals, into snacks, into daily decisions about my body. It’s not about perfection or performance. It’s about presence. His presence in my choices, my kitchen, my table, my body.
The Spirit doesn’t ask me to “do better.” He asks me to invite Him in—to whisper a simple prayer before I eat: “For Your glory, Lord.” That one pause opens the door for His grace to interrupt my old patterns.
A Practice for You
Breathe-Prayer: Before eating, whisper: “For Your glory, Lord.”
Micro-Pause: Once a day, ask: “Does this glorify God?”
Evening Reflection: Jot down one place you remembered Him today, and one place you forgot. Not to shame yourself—just to notice.
This study was written using the Margins Method simplified inductive bible study! If you are interested in using this method check out www.themarginsmethod.com to learn more!!
