Why Worship?
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong” (Ecclesiastes 5:1).
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).
What is our attitude when we go to worship, when we approach the house of the Lord? For some today, it might be an obligation, a routine. And there’s not anything wrong with routine. Routines give shape and form to our lives. Routines help us remember who we are and what is important. The computer I’m typing on runs routines so that it can produce what I ask for through the keyboard. Routines are not bad in and of themselves, but if we approach worship as only a routine, only an obligation that we have to get through, then worship becomes less than it could and should be.
Some go to worship for personal gain. I have known people in my life who chose the church they attended because it was good for business. They liked to be seen because it would bring those people into their business. One man even told me that, when he took his job, he was told, “Find a church and make sure you’re seen.” For some, church is a country club and worship is simply a regular gathering of the members.
But for the psalmist, there is another reason to go to worship: to experience joy. When someone suggests to the psalmist that they should go to worship, the psalmist is glad. He rejoices. He might have even danced a bit. Going to the house of the Lord was a reason for celebration. Do you go to worship with joy, with anticipation, believing that God will show up and do something in your life and in the life of your church?
If we don’t have that anticipation, it might be because we fail to heed the warning that the Teacher gives in Ecclesiastes: “Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools.” Or, perhaps more blunt is the New Living Translation: “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.” The sacrifice of fools is, perhaps, when we do more talking than listening to God. (Preachers are always in danger of offering this fool’s sacrifice!) We tell God what we want rather than listening for what he wants. We spend silent time thinking of what has to be done next rather than listening for God’s direction. We sing the words without listening to what we’re saying. We offer the sacrifice of fools rather than receiving the gifts God wants to give to the wise.
As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Good wisdom we would all do well to heed.
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).
What is our attitude when we go to worship, when we approach the house of the Lord? For some today, it might be an obligation, a routine. And there’s not anything wrong with routine. Routines give shape and form to our lives. Routines help us remember who we are and what is important. The computer I’m typing on runs routines so that it can produce what I ask for through the keyboard. Routines are not bad in and of themselves, but if we approach worship as only a routine, only an obligation that we have to get through, then worship becomes less than it could and should be.
Some go to worship for personal gain. I have known people in my life who chose the church they attended because it was good for business. They liked to be seen because it would bring those people into their business. One man even told me that, when he took his job, he was told, “Find a church and make sure you’re seen.” For some, church is a country club and worship is simply a regular gathering of the members.
But for the psalmist, there is another reason to go to worship: to experience joy. When someone suggests to the psalmist that they should go to worship, the psalmist is glad. He rejoices. He might have even danced a bit. Going to the house of the Lord was a reason for celebration. Do you go to worship with joy, with anticipation, believing that God will show up and do something in your life and in the life of your church?
If we don’t have that anticipation, it might be because we fail to heed the warning that the Teacher gives in Ecclesiastes: “Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools.” Or, perhaps more blunt is the New Living Translation: “As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God.” The sacrifice of fools is, perhaps, when we do more talking than listening to God. (Preachers are always in danger of offering this fool’s sacrifice!) We tell God what we want rather than listening for what he wants. We spend silent time thinking of what has to be done next rather than listening for God’s direction. We sing the words without listening to what we’re saying. We offer the sacrifice of fools rather than receiving the gifts God wants to give to the wise.
As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. Good wisdom we would all do well to heed.
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