It’s worship, wor-ship. Worth-ship. When we gather on Sunday’s for worship, it is for a blink of time. A small slice out of a whole week. It is our set aside time, at God’s demand, that we show God His worth in our lives. It is not our time to show off our skills or be in control of anything. It’s about God, and God alone. It’s not about our needs, our wants, our likes and dislikes…it’s not about us.

I once served a church that had a man (no gentleman…just a man) who’s role was to handle the church’s money. Now he took his role very seriously. Handling the church’s money is a serious matter. But this man actually believed the money was on loan to him from God to dispense as he thought he should. One summer Sunday morning at about 10:57am (worship began at 11:00am) he makes his way to the pulpit area where I am engaged in a conversation with the chairman of the deacons. With his right index finger wagging 1/2 inch from nose, he began to make some very loud accusations and some very unflattering comments about me. Did I mention that is was about 11:57. At the altar and the organist was playing the prelude and the choir was coming in and the deacons were taking their seat on the front row. At that moment I had an epiphany…this man was not ready for worship, nor would he be that day. He had an agenda that did not involve God. He sang the songs, he heard the message and scriptures…and when it was over…he put the finger back in my face and picked up where he left off. Much to the embarrassment of the chairman of the deacons, and the pastor and most of the congregation, me and I’m pretty sure God heard him as well.

This man was in the minority. There were saints who gathered to truly worship. Just like we have saints at Bethlehem. They enter the sanctuary eager to express their appreciation and love for their heavenly Father. They sing from the bottom of their soul, with, or without, an ability to sound like an angel. They meditate on His Word. They encourage those they meet. They know that their time in the sanctuary is not about them…it is about God.

Jesus, according to Matthew, says we worship God and serve him only! When we lift our voices in song…it is for God alone and not for us. When the choir or soloist sings…it is for God alone and not for us. When we pray…it is for God alone and not for us. When we serve The Lord’s Supper or take up the offering…it is for God alone and not for us.

Now…if someone doesn’t like a song we sing, or the manner we share in Table Fellowship, or even how someone say’s hello, it becomes a God problem. Listen to their complaints…”I don’t like…”, “I think we shouldn’t…, “I don’t see why we do…”, “I’m in charge of…” Compare their statements to those who have discovered that worship is showing God His worth to them. They don’t care about their own needs, they are not concerned if something is being done they way they think it should be. To them…it really is all about God.

And by the way…everything we do is worship…all day, everyday. Each action we take is to be an act of worship.

I’m looking forward to worshiping this week. Won’t you join me so we can be a community in one accord?