Worship Is...(part 4)
Worship is focus.
We all know this. Jesus makes it very clear when He says in Matthew 5, "No one can serve two masters." I often tell people that I can tell them exactly who they worship by what they do with their time, treasure, and talents.
Time - If you look at your week, how is your time spent, especially your free time? Are you investing your time solely in your own pleasure or in what is eternal?
Treasure - Where do you spend your money? Where do your resources go?
Talent - What do you do with your gifts and talents?
Now I'm not saying that every dollar and every second has to go to the church, but it's pretty obvious when someone is self-focused or God-focused. The truth is, though, that I'm not responsible for anyone else. I am only responsible for me. It is self-examination. It is praying, "Lord, show me where my focus is. Show me who I really worship."
As we look through Scripture, we see that really, the two choices are to focus on Yahweh, or focus on ME. Either Yahweh is God, or I am my own god. Myself as god is the natural state of humanity. It is a choice to turn away from that and make Christ my Lord. However, me as god this is just as prevelant in the church as it is in the world. When people in church start using the words "I" and "me", they have turned away from Jesus and Lord and created a god made in their own image. "I don't like this music." "We shouldn't be trying to reach people outside the church. You should focus on me." "You realize I give a lot of money to this church. You should do what I want." "Those people make me uncomfortable. You should tell them to leave." I could go on. All of these are things that people have actually said to me in church. They are the statements of people whose focus, whose worship, is on the wrong god.
Worship is focus. So where is your focus? Does your life revolve around you and your wants and desires, or does it revolve around God and His plan? If people just looked at where you spent your money, how you spent your time, and where you invested your talents; would it be obvious that Yawheh is your Lord, or would it be obvious that you are your own god?
Songs for Sunday
How Great Thou Art (arranged by Ryan Houchens)
Build Your Kingdom Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdJXKqVgtg
Here Waiting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKYWheWFHYM
King of Kings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5IcFWiEpg
Holy Spirit