3 Principles For Worshipping God!
While worshipping God will include more than these 3 principles, it will definitely include these three. I chose them because they are often forgotten and not mentioned. These 3 seem to reside underneath the covers hiding away from most of our attentions. However, they are important reminders that if our worship is going to remain unadulterated and pure before a Holy Righteous God they need to be kept in check.
PRINCIPLE #1: We're To Worship God Who Needs Nothing!
How many times have we praise people for their work and effort for the purpose of encouraging them. Praise in that sense is done because we think the person needs it. But God doesn't need our praise. God doesn't get discouraged that causes him to need others to build him up. God doesn't need us to boost His ego.
We don't worship God because he needs it. We worship Him because He DESERVES IT!
Our motivation for worshipping God doesn't come from a sense of God's need but out of a sense of God's worth.
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." Ps 63:3
PRINCIPLE #2: We're To Worship God Even Though We Don't Feel Like It!
Listen to the words of Job after his family was killed and property was stolen.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:21 (NIV)
What was Job doing?
- First he makes a declaration of truth
- and then Job begins to praise God - he begins to worship God!
Let me ask you a question! At that moment, after hearing about the murder of his children and all his property being stolen, do you think Job "FELT" like worshipping God? Of course NOT! But he did it any how!
Do you think that King David felt like worshipping God after the death of his baby with Bathsheba? Of course not! But that's exactly what he did. He bathed, he changed cloths and he went to the temple to worship God. Do we truly think that Paul and Silas after being beaten and thrown into jail in Philippi felt like worship God while chained in stocks? Of course NOT! But that's what they were doing.
Worship isn't intended to praise God for the wonderful and great things that He has done for us exclusively. It is also intended to worship him even when we are morning and saddened by the events of life.
We worship God not because we feel like it but we worship Him because He is worthy of it!
"In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12 (NIV)
PRINCIPLE #3: Worship Of God Includes Meeting Other People's Need!
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV)
Did you read what are the sacrifices we're to bring to God for worship that will please Him?
- It is doing good
- and sharing with others who are in need.
It's not just our songs we sing and the prayers we make but it also includes how we treat people and how we look out after them by meeting their needs.
"I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." Phil 4:18 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul considered the gifts of support he received as being a fragrant offering and an acceptable sacrifice that is pleasing to God.
After you leave your fancy church buildings and go out for lunch do you even give a consideration the homeless person in the park that may or may not get a meal that day? Do we really think that God is please with our songs when we ignore the needs of others around us?