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Sep 10, 2025 06:00am

Living with Purpose: Remembering Your “So That” in Christ

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I’ve always been interested in the “why.” When asking this question, it’s not to undermine authority or be defiant; it’s a deeply rooted desire to learn reasoning and meaning for the things we do.

Like when we were told we had to wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming. Or when we learned Algebra and letters represented numbers. Or when we were told not to eat too much salt, to show our work, and to wash our hands. It’s not just a rule to follow. It’s not just to ruin your fun, destroy your life, or make you a puppet. There’s good reasoning behind all of it.

That’s why I love these words: “so that.” In Scripture, when you come across this little phrase, you know you’re about to learn the reason why.

It’s important.

Whatever follows explains the meaning of the commands given before it.

In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul ends the chapter by saying, “so that many may be saved.”

When I read that, I think, “Wow!” This isn’t just a good reason to pay attention to what was previously said, but a great reason!

Christ came to seek and save the lost. His mission was to offer salvation to those who needed it and to show them how to live a life pleasing to the Lord. A life that would be an example for others to follow. A life that was lived out of thankfulness for the gift God had given, not to earn it.

As followers of Christ, as His disciples, we have joined Him in this mission—to go and make disciples. We do as Christ did. Our goals should be the same as what Christ desired.

So what was Paul referencing when he said “so that many may be saved”?

Idol worship.

It was a huge issue in the city of Corinth.

[Scripture block unchanged for accuracy.]

Unity through sacrifice was a long-standing practice within the Jewish tradition. God had instituted sacrifices within the temple for the people’s sin and then the eating of those sacrifices as an expression of unity with God. This overflowed into pagan worship of course, however, they weren’t sacrificing to God.

Their sacrifices were made to idols, false gods. And Paul was clear that if your sacrifice isn’t to the only one and true living God, then it was to the devil.

Our worship must not be divided.

We cannot expect to honor God and live according to His will by living “two lives.” It can’t be “Christ and the crowd”; it must be one or the other.

And here’s the age-old question: why?

Just as Paul said, “31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.”

So that many may be saved.

Let’s ask ourselves the hard questions today. Is there something in my life that would not bring glory to God? Do my actions and words lead people to the Lord or away from Him?

Even those who pride themselves on doing all the “right” things can miss this point Paul is driving home.

It’s not just about living a blameless life. It’s not about playing it safe on the sidelines. Being a witness for Christ includes being active and vocal. It’s about understanding the changes in culture and being able to speak into them. It’s about loving them enough to reach out, speak up, and not leave them there. It’s about inviting them to a new life in Christ.

Remember your “so that.” Too often, we forget.

To learn more about becoming a disciple of Jesus, go to follow.lifeword.org. Or, if you have someone you need to reach out to and offer to disciple them, this is a great tool to use. It’s free, easy to use, video based, and easy to understand no matter how much you know from the Bible.