Worship Then Work

We have things mixed up in the church. Pastors are constantly trying to get more workers. More volunteers. More teachers. More leaders. More organizers. More planners. Many respond to these pleas for help. They work. They conscientiously fulfill their obligations. They labor diligently. Many hate every second of it. They work and honor their commitment but they get no satisfaction out of it. They count down the days until their commitment is fulfilled and they can walk away.

There are others who serve in their positions for decades. You could not tear them away from their service with wild horses. They love what they do. They love the people they do it for. Most importantly they love the One who called them and for whom they offer service.

We sure get this wrong. If we called people to worship the work would follow. I need to explain what I mean by worship. I'm not talking about attending a religious gathering better known as a worship service. Have you ever noticed what people do in these meetings? Some are all in. Lost in the wonder of worship. They sing. They clap. They raise their hands. They sit quietly with tears of joy flowing. They pray. In all of this they worship.

On the same pews there are others who just stand there. Hands shoved in their pockets or gripped on the pew or chair in front of them. They never sing. They just stand their fidgeting awkwardly uncomfortable. They look out of place. I saw this on a video recently. I saw a lady more concerned about a baby than worship. I saw a man seemingly more concerned about his personal appearance by patting his head, fixing his hair, adjusting his clothes than worship.

If people do not get worship they will never want to work for God. True worship does not start in the worship service. True worship must begin in the prayer closet, in the secret place, in private devotions, in quiet times and private praise. The whole Christian life hinges on these times alone with God pouring over the pages of His word caught up in the wonder of Him and His truth. The more intense this private worship grows the more people willingly offer their lives in service to God. They want to do for Him. They delight to serve Him. They worship in working for Him. They willingly lay their lives down on His altar. Worship must come before working.

Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.