What is worship, really?
Yes, I know that it’s the part of the service when we sing worship songs. But is that all worship is? Is worship just the singing part? Is worship just a style of song or singing?
These are questions I asked myself about 15 years ago when I began to sense a great change in Christian music. Suddenly everyone was singing “worship” and every song was a “worship song,” no matter the lyrics or difficulty of the music.
The answer to those questions radically changed my perspective of worship and what worship actually means.
As Christians we often compartmentalize our lives.
When I read the Bible, it’s godly.
When I go to the store, it’s secular.
When I sing worship songs, that’s worship.
When I wash dishes … well, you know.
But God never meant for us to compartmentalize our lives this way.
As a child of God, everything we do should be worship, because the Holy Spirit lives us us and wants to influence everything we do, everything we say, everywhere we go and everyone with whom we speak!
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
And we see this same principle this week with Good Morning Girls in Deuteronomy 11-15. Every chapter actually speaks about worship, whether it’s about obedience, requirements about how to worship and offer sacrifices, punishment for those who practice idolatry, giving the tithe, or respect for mankind.
God doesn’t view worship as just singing or prayer, just as “Christian activity” isn’t just reading the Bible or evangelism.
Worship is a lifestyle.
When I clean the house, prepare dinner or drive the kids to soccer practice, I am worshipping God, because I am serving my family. When I serve my family, I am serving God.
But there is a catch, and it’s my attitude.
If I serve my family with a bad attitude, I am not worshipping God, because God cannot be glorified through my bad attitude. My attitude determines whom I am worshipping. When I serve my family with a godly attitude, I am serving God, because He gave me my family as a ministry. When I am at work, I serve God, because God gave me my job.
This is why Paul said we should be “with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing any man does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is enslaved or free” (Eph. 6:7-8).
When I give my family 100 percent, when at work I give 100 percent, I am not giving to men but to God. I am not serving my boss, but God.
And that is worship.
Maybe you’re thinking, But I don’t want to give 100 percent or I simply don’t have 100 percent to give.
Give what you have, just as the widow gave to God all that she had, and God will reward you!
A miracle happens when, with a joyful heart of worship, we give to the Lord all we have. And the more we give, the more our hearts are filled up! And our heart because an endless fountain of joy because worship always brings joy!
What is worship?
It is the way I choose to live my life! {eoa}
Rosilind Jukic, a Pacific Northwest native, is a missionary living in Croatia and married to her Bosnian hero. Together they live with their two active boys where she enjoys fruity candles, good coffee and a hot cup of herbal tea on a blustery fall evening. Her passion for writing led her to author her best-selling book The Missional Handbook. At A Little R & R she encourages women to find contentment in what God created them to be. You can also find her at Missional Call where she shares her passion for local and global missions. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google +.
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