This is the second installment in a two-part series about worship. You can find the first article here: “Everyday Worship: What Worship Is (Part One)”
So. You know what worship is—giving God the glory above all else. We’ve already talked about how there are two ways to worship, through good deeds and through praising.
Now the question is, why should we worship?
Why Should We Worship?
We Are Always Worshipping
Some believe that if they’re not worshipping God, they’re not worshipping anything. Is that true? Does worship only happen when we’re glorifying the resurrected Christ?
Nope. In fact, humans are always worshipping something. We worship money, status, relationships, security, happiness, achievements, uniqueness, ourselves—the list could go almost to infinity.
And we worship through the little things. No matter what we’re doing—eating, sleeping, working, hanging out with friends—we’re glorifying something (1 Corinthians 10:31). We’re pointing to something as our hope, motivation, and strength.
If worship is always happening, the question becomes, where is your heart at?
What does the world see you glorifying by what your attitude is, where you spend your time, how you use your money, and who gets your attention?
And, why is your heart fixed on that thing?
You could be deeply integrated into your church, serving in your community, and reading your Bible every morning.
But is it only for show?
Is it only to show others you’re a good Christian?
Is it only to show yourself you’re a good Christian?
Worship Is a Witness
What if I told you that worship—in public and in private—is a witness?
What we say, what we do, how we handle ourselves—these things all provide a witness about who we worship and why.
Live like the world sees what you’re doing. Because, believe it or not, someone’s seeing and listening in on your life. The microphone is on, the shutters are open, and what’s done in private won’t stay there forever (Ecclesiastes 12:14, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Acts 17:31).
They could be hunting for weaknesses—a way to criticize you, your faith, and your God.
Or they’re hoping this Christianity thing is real, but they’re searching for proof in the way you live and love.
When your world falls apart and you push God away, they see how your faith crumbles. They’re watching to see who you really serve when the church parking lot is empty. They want to know if you’re actually living for God when no one’s looking or if you wear a façade and are living the biggest lie of the group.
Don’t give yourself permission to slack off in private. God calls us to be kind, and that includes being kind to our siblings. He tells us to have self-control, even with our bodies. He showed us how to be compassionate, even to the outcast.
These things are witnesses. They show the world what a Jesus-follower is like after we leave the church building and our Christian friends. They give believers a model for how to live.
This isn’t a call to be perfect—I know I can’t do that, and I doubt you can. We’re fallen humans living in a fallen world.
But maybe, just maybe, our broken worship can still shine a witness of a kind, self-controlled, compassionate God who doesn’t put up a façade around anyone to look better than He really is.
Worship Sustains
The benefits of worship don’t end there.
Worship sustains through seasons of suffering. It grounds us in the good, never-changing aspects of God rather than the uneven, tumultuous circumstances we’re facing (Matthew 7:24–27). It means having a realistic hope in things we haven’t seen yet and worshipping God for who He is, what He’s done, and what He will do.
Who Do We Worship?
Like we said at the beginning of this article, you’re always worshipping.
Don’t believe me? How much time, money, and effort have you spent curating your closet, getting perfect grades, attempting to fit in, or checking up on social media?
If none of those things are snares for you, what’s something else you obsess over that distracts you during church service, keeps you away from reading your Bible, or is an excuse for not serving?
Now, who should we be worshipping? That’s a totally different question, but here’s an easy answer for you: The Triune God, revealed through His true Word to be Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1), Savior of our souls (John 3:16), our closest Friend (John 15:14).
Why Should We Worship This God?
He created us with the purpose of glorifying Him for all eternity. But because He loved us, He gave us a choice: Obey and follow Him, or choose the path of lies, betrayal, hatred, and envy.
We chose to walk away. That should have separated us from Him forever . . . but He loved us so much that He refused to leave us stranded. He gave us a second chance . . . a chance to be free of our sin and rebellion and to walk on the path with Him.
We don’t deserve that. But He gave us that option, anyway, and that’s certainly enough reason to praise Him.
Worship is beautiful.
It shows the world there’s a God who cares and who’s worth caring about. In 1 Kings 8:41–43, Solomon gives a speech about the new temple and proclaims that foreigners will hear about the Lord and come to worship. We are the temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Worship sustains our souls through seasons of suffering. We can see this in Acts 16:25, when Paul and Silas sang hymns while in prison.
Maybe most of all, it’s praise to the God of the universe, Creator of the heavens and the earth, and Savior of our souls.
That’s worth celebrating, don’t you think?
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