Why Worship?

 January 18, 2024

The gauntlet was thrown, the challenge accepted. Thus begins the story of Job. God was bragging on his man, whereupon Satan issues his challenge. 

“Did you notice my servant Job?” the Lord asked. “There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil.” Satan replied, “Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it? You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns. You bless everything he does, and you have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country.” —Job 1:8-10

Though designed to entrap, Satan’s question is legitimate. Would Job worship God if there were no carrot at the end of the stick? More to the point, would I worship God if I got nothing out of it? Be careful here; there’s more to this question than you might think. We Americans are notorious church-hoppers. “I’m not getting anything out of the sermon.” “I don’t like hymns (or Contemporary Christian music).” “There’s nothing for our kids.” “The music is too loud.” “This church is too political.” “They aren’t friendly here.” “They’re just after my money.” “The pastor didn’t call on me when I was sick.” 

I’ve heard every one of these statements and more in the course of my ministry; the common thread is the attitude that if the church doesn’t meet my needs, cater to my tastes, I’ll just go somewhere else. Not a single one of the above sentences reveals an attitude of gratitude or humble service. And none of us are innocent. Would you worship God if you got nothing out of the service? Would I? How often have we come away from a worship service saying, “Wow! That really moved me this morning! The preaching was convincing, the music superb!” Alternatively, we’ve served up roast preacher at Sunday dinner; we didn’t get anything out of it, with emphasis on the word “get.”

Deceiver that he is, Satan hit the nail on the head with this question. His purpose is to discredit and destroy, but we get to determine whether he succeeds or fails. I’m not there yet, but I want to be like Job—worshipping God even if I don’t understand his ways, even if my world falls apart, even if I get nothing out of doing so, simply because Jesus Christ is worthy.

”Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”                —Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭‬