“They worshipped the Almighty Dollar…” – In other words: Every waking moment of every day, they spent thinking of ways how to get more, make more and have more…
As I am learning more and more about the concept of “Worship”, I think I start to understand how the scientists of the Large Hadron Collider feels like…
There is a big ball of something, all of which is extremely important, but in the midst of the mist, there is a kernel of existential truth that feels just out of reach and understanding…
There is a story about a father waiting for a surgeon that must do a critical operation on his child. The surgeon is running late, and when he finally arrives, the father is suitably agitated, making no attempt to hide his frustration and anger. Commenting about how the doctor probably had to finish his round of golf before coming in. The doctor, on the other hand, just takes in the abuse, and continues with his brief to the father, then walks away to get ready for the surgery.
Halfway through the operation, a second doctor comes out and informs the parents that there is a complication and the surgery will take longer than expected. The father who is already riled up, comments that probably the doctor’s focus was on tomorrow’s golf, or the drinks he had at the pub after the game that caused him to make a mistake. Shifting over to how much extra it is going to cost them.
But, the doctor managed to save the child in surgery, going much longer than expected and when he came out, he met the parents, briefly explained what went wrong, what they did to fix it and that the child will be in close observation for a few days. He then excused himself and left.
Even though the doctor clearly saved the life of the young child, The father of the child was livid. Complaining to the ward nurse that they shouldn’t hire doctors that is there just to make money and then bugger off. Rather invest in people that care about the lives of those in their care, etc, etc, etc…
The ward sister looked at the gentleman until he said everything he was going to say and then responded:
The doctor was late this morning because he had to attend to some last minute funeral arrangements. He came in today because he expected that there might be complications and didn’t want to hand over the responsibility of the operation to another surgeon, and didn’t think it could be postponed. And lastly, he hurried off because he was missing the funeral of his own son that passed away earlier in the week.
I cannot think that this story is true, except that it feels so real. The nature of a father and a father.
I catch myself complaining to God much more than worshipping Him. I have to actively think about the good things I can and want to praise God for, but complaints and requests just flow from my heart. Even about things that is completely in my own control. I wanted to spend the afternoon reading but ended up watching movies on Netflix…So we think or pray: Why did You allow it!? Why didn’t You change my heart? I want to pray for so-and-so… Please help so-and-so… Please don’t allow this to happen… Has God become a celestial ATM machine for answering prayers?
In Exodus (ch33) I read that Moses pitched a tent outside the camp of the Israelites where he met with God. When he walked to the tent, the Israelites would come out and stand in the entrances of their own tents, watching him, waiting for God to descend and meet with Moses face-to-face. “… Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent…” Exodus 33:10 (NIV)
The Israelites made many mistakes, but I read this and it reminds me of group worship a church, or an evangelism event. The worship of a leader guiding the worship of a nation… did not something similar happen in Nineveh? The king called for repentance and the whole city turned to God?
Can I do it?
God gave me a sphere of influence. A space where He expects me to be the way in which His kingdom comes in this world, here and now… does this not make me the “worship leader”? Not the one that sings in front of the church, but the one that leads others to a place of worshipping God? Communing with God… sitting down with the Father, talking?
It seems to be much easier to say to your fellow citizens: “Ag… we will see how it turns out…” Instead of proclaiming: “I can’t wait to see how it turns out!” … rather discussing the worst case scenario instead of expecting and living for the fact that whatever the result, it is to the glory of God and His Kingdom!
Is this not also worship? A lifestyle of gratitude, specifically focussing on and looking out for that which uplifts, builds, creates & heals as a natural response for my gratitude to the Father? How can I lead people into Worship, and bring God’s Kingdom to bear on any situation if my time with God is only spent asking for things, instead of listening to God’s direction?
Maybe the average Capitalist is better than I am at worship, except… he stays thirsty for more…
My time with God ALWAYS refreshes me.
