Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. (Ex. 32:31)
My college music professor, Garen Wolf I, often made the comment that worship was really “worthship.” And he was right. The root comes from the Old English weorth meaning “worthy” or “honorable.” The suffix -ship is the state of being of whatever comes before it. Thus, worship means “the state of being worthy.” We must worship the God of heaven because he is the only one worthy of it. God is the creator of all. God the Son is the One who died for us. No other supposed deity has done that and much more.
I once heard a preacher say that “envy is wanting what another has; jealousy is wanting what is rightfully mine.” That’s true at least in God’s case. Scripture makes it clear that he is a “jealous God” when it comes to our relationship with him. He is not jealous in a petty, pouty way but because, as the source of all truth, he knows that no one else deserves our worship. We must worship him because it is right and to do otherwise is a great sin.
Exclusive worship belongs to the One who is worthy. There is no other who compares. The Israelites were quick to forget. And so, sometimes, are we. But tomorrow you have another opportunity to practice true worship with other believers in his house. Use it fully and well.
Base your worship on God’s worthship.
Valorie Quesenberry is a pastor’s wife and mom who lives in Indiana and likes to recharge with coffee and time with friends.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
