Not “For Entertainment Purposes Only”

I am always amazed when I hear people say things like:

“Church was boring.”

“I didn’t get anything out of the sermon.”

“Service was ‘off the chain!’ “

“I got my Praise On!”

It’s almost as though worship is evaluated as either a boring movie or a great concert.

Worship’s purpose is not to entertain you.

It is to go and THANK the Lord for all of the blessings you have received this past week. For Health, Food, Clothing, Shelter, Water, Jobs…

When you go to worship, GOD IS THE AUDIENCE. He is watching YOU.

Worship is not about You. It’s About HIM…

Some people act as though they are doing God a favor by even going to worship. If that’s your attitude, He would prefer you not come at all.

Revelation 3:15-17 (NKJV): 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—“

I also find it perplexing for people to have this “dress down, casual” attitude about worship. We dress up to go to work. If we were going to a formal banquet or meeting famous people such as the Queen of England, we would go with our best. Yet, we feel comfortable with giving our Creator & Heavenly Father our “left-overs.” 

The “come as you are” philosophy is often misinterpreted. This was said to people who had merger means…to come with what they had. I recall worshipping in Nigeria West Africa, where we had gone to support our mission efforts at our school. The people had virtually nothing; yet, they still attended worship with their very best. They knew they were going into the presence of the Lord. If we attend worship with a “casual” attitude, we may be inclined to be “casual” about God. It is interesting how we think we “just woke up this morning” all on our own accord.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV): “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Worship is not a place to take casually. It’s our opportunity to give HIM the glory. We should take our relationship with the Lord as seriously as HE takes his with us…