The Place Where Worship and Work Meet

The Caged Lion

Worship is what we do on Sunday, right? It’s dressing up, plastering on a wide smile, showing up at our local church, shaking a few hands, singing some songs, forcing ourselves to stay awake when the guy gets up in front of the congregation and speaks, and then racing to the car for dinner and a show.

Okay, maybe not exactly, but you get the idea: Worship, at least the way we have traditionally defined it, is all about a place. Worship is what we do when we’re at church.

That’s why we view work as what we do Monday through Friday. It’s putting in time at the office, sorting through tickets, answering phone calls, responding to emails, filing paperwork, resolving the world’s computer problems, bantering with co-workers at the water cooler, fighting fires, satisfying angry customers, marketing to new ones and strategizing for the company’s future.

If worship is only what we do at church, and work is only what we do at our offices, then these are mutually exclusive concepts. There is never a point where these two lines cross.

What a pity.

Letting the Cat out of the Bag

Revelation 4:11 jumpstarts our idea of worship: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Did you notice the last part of that verse? It says, “. . . For thy pleasure they are and were created.” That. Changes. Everything. It means everything, including you and me, exists for God’s pleasure. He created us to please Him, period.

This revolutionary idea creates some problems for those of us who confine worship and work to a place. God says worship is all about a Person — Him. It’s living, working, attending church, interacting with others and doing life so as to demonstrate His praiseworthiness.

Snap! Suddenly the neat, solid, distinct lines of worship and work have been radically, completely and irreversibly altered so they are indistinguishable. No longer can worship be caged within church doors. Like a lion released into the wild, worship bounds over hill and valley, prairie and plain until it touches the four corners of the earth and declares with a mighty roar, “The world is mine!”

What to Do About the Cat on the Loose

What does this new understanding of worship and work have to do with us? First, it should transform our view of the little things in life. Every action and interaction, every word and thought potentially declares to others our view of God’s worth. Colossians 3:23 advises, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Second, this should transform our relationships. Colossians 3 showcases three relationships which a proper view of worship impacts: husband-wife, parent-child, and boss-employee. The phrases, “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (v.17), “as it is fit in the Lord” (v.18), “this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (v.20) and “in singleness of heart, fearing God” (v.22) challenge us to live all of life before an audience of One and with the intention of pleasing Him.

Finally, the truth about worship should make us think about how well we are presently ascribing worth to God — Sunday through Saturday. You may ask, Does my conversation with my family in the car on the way to church bring pleasure to God? Does my singing and listening in church demonstrate He is worthy of worship? My work ethic and attitude on the job — do they please God? Does the way I respond to disappointments, complications, frustrations and difficult people at work speak well of my God to those who watch me? Do the diversions I allow to take my time draw me closer or create distance between me and God? Does the way I treat others communicate a high view of God? Would God put His stamp of approval on the way I filed my income taxes this year?

Our God is worthy of worship and praise — all day, every day. Let’s show the world we really believe it.

Worthy of Worship

Worthy of worship, worthy of praise,
Worthy of honor and glory.
Worthy of all the glad songs we can sing.
Worthy of all of the off’rings we bring.

Worthy of rev’rence, worthy of fear,
Worthy of love and devotion.
Worthy of bowing and bending of knees,
Worthy of all this and added to these.

Almighty Father, Master and Lord,
King of all kings and Redeemer.
Wonderful Counselor, Comforter, Friend,
Savior and Source of our life without end.

You are worthy, Father, Creator.
You are worthy, Savior, Sustainer.
You are worthy, worthy and wonderful!
Worthy of worship and praise!

– Terry W. York

Article by Cam Edwards