Why does God demand our worship?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Worship means to honor or praise. God is the one perfect Being in the entire universe, completely worthy of worship. Thus, He requests, seeks, and demands that His created beings honor Him. Further, we are taught to worship no other god or idol. Worship is more than singing; it is a life posture of honoring God through obedience and acknowledgment of His worth. There is no other god, person, or created thing that should receive allegiance in the place of the Lord. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and salvation. God deserves our worship, and we are wise to entrust our lives and our worship to Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God is the Creator of all things, including every person (Genesis 1).
• Exodus 34:14 clearly states, "for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Deuteronomy 12:31 adds that those who follow the Lord must worship according to His ways, not the ways of those who worship other gods: "You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way." We are clearly commanded to worship God.
• The Bible calls us to worship God for who He is and what He has done: Psalm 95:6 proclaims, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!" First Chronicles 16:29 states, "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness."

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• God is the Sustainer of all life: "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17). God has provided the way for salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). God is the only true God (John 17:3). For all these things, God is worthy of our worship.
• John 4:23–24 notes, "the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." We are all made to worship, and we are called to worship God in spirit and truth.
• Romans 12:1 instructs, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." We are called to present our whole selves as worship to God.
• Worship is not an option; it is a command. Even in the last days, Revelation 15:4 teaches that all will worship the Lord: "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

As humans, we are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27–28). We were created to display the truth of His character to the world. We were designed to have a relationship with Him. Worship is not just something God desires because He is worthy; He also desires it because He loves us. Worship—living our lives in light of who God is, by His ways, and for His glory—is what we were designed for. It is not about God needing an ego boost, but about God, in His love, creating humans. Because He is our Creator, living His ways and in relationship with Him is actually for our good. Jesus makes the connection between love and obedience in John 15. John 17 and the book of 1 John also show the unity we are intended to have with God. Worship—living our lives as a response to who God is and what He does—is a central part of that (John 4:23–24; Romans 12:1–2).

UNDERSTAND

• God alone is perfectly deserving of worship and honor.
• Worship aligns with our purpose as beings created to reflect God’s character and to live in relationship with Him.
• Worship is commanded by God as an essential aspect of our obedience and response to Him.

REFLECT

• How does understanding that God is the Creator and Sustainer influence the way you approach daily worship and obedience in your life?
• Why is God worthy of your worship? How do you create rhythms in your life to regularly reflect on these things?
• What are some ways you can worship God?

ENGAGE

• We all worship something—it’s just a matter of what. Everything else we worship will let us down, fade away, or fall apart. God never will. He alone is worthy of all our worship now and for eternity.
• How does recognizing God’s attributes as Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer deepen our understanding of His worthiness of worship?
• How should our worship practices reflect the majesty and perfection of God, ensuring that we are honoring Him fully and not just going through the motions?