Why do we dig in the dirt and lovingly plant gardens? For ourselves?
The reason we take care of our plants in the garden is for our own use and pleasure. However, we must understand and respect the needs of the plant, or our efforts may well be in vain.
God demands respect. He wants us to worship him and is clear in scripture how that is to happen. (Spoiler alert here: it’s all about God, not about us.)
Jesus gravely warned us not to be like some in his generation. “In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrine the precepts of men” (Matthew 15:9 NASB).
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
The scriptures tell us that worship “in spirit” is not enough; it must also be “in truth.” No matter what we feel during worship, we must be more concerned with what God feels. He wants to be worshiped in truth.
This picture is decidedly not like the worship recently described by the wife of a famous “prosperity gospel” preacher. The couple is known for their “positive thinking” message. Lately, this message went far over the line. Mrs. O. stated that we don’t come to worship for God’s sake, but our own. She thinks that this is what makes God happy, when we make ourselves happy.
There are many ways that a garden can fail when it is planted for our own instant pleasure. We have all seen, at the garden centers, potted arrangements of plants which look nice when they are sold, but soon are crowded together until they yellow and die.
Instant gratification is a death knell to a garden. It requires quite an artistic eye to anticipate how plants will grow, and what the garden will look like both now and when it has matured.
Springtime seems to be the prime season for everyone to be interested in planting a garden. People excitedly till up a spot, put in a few things that look nice in April or May, and wonder why everything is brown by July. It is because those perennial flowers that are blooming at the time are not necessarily beautiful all year. The selfish gardener wanted it all to look pretty all at once and is sorry later for her early choices.
Gardeners with lofty ideals based on glib promises will fail when they choose plants that look nice in catalogs but are not suited to the climate where they are to be planted. A responsible nursery or garden center will not sell Edelweiss in Pittsburgh without warning the buyer that the plant may not thrive.
Our activities in horticulture may ultimately bring pleasure to us, but if we don’t have a healthy respect for the way things grow, we will be defeated before we start. In worship, we must respect and revere the object of our worship, even though he ultimately wants to bless us.
The term “worship” in the Greek language literally means to “kiss toward” the object of our devotion. Are we blowing our kisses into the mirror?
Of course God loves us and wants us to be happy. He prepared mansions in Heaven for us, and then sent his own Son to suffer and die to purchase our way into it. But that doesn’t mean that it’s all about us.
We worship God because he is worthy (Revelation 5:12). Our happiness is secondary. Trust God to make you happy eternally. That’s what he does! It’s not really our job.
I’m sorry but I am bothered by comments about Mrs O,in the notes of 10/16/14,I feel like Gods plan for us and love for us comes tous in many forms,first our bible,then in the the words from others,all the words may sound different in their exuberance,or delivery but in each sermon or writing there is a little bit of something that draws people back to or closer to God, and I feel like that is the ultimate goal. My opinion and thanks for your time.
Dear Wanda,
Thank you for your comment; we always appreciate feedback.
We have a special article coming out next weekend (10/25-26) on the points you have made, and here is a preview: “What is the meaning of authority? Why do preachers and Bible teachers use that term to defend what they do? We can find several descriptions in the scriptures themselves.”
–Staff @ http://www.abiblecommentary.com/christianwoman
In the world today, many believe everything is for “me.” It is what I think or what I feel. That attitude has been discussed on nearly every public forum–even Facebook.
I have a question or two that we might need to consider regarding how we can know what the Lord wants. Is worship or religion in general what I feel, or what the Lord said? Is the Creator not the owner? Do we all not know and understand that it is the owner who has the authority over what he owns? God claims ownership of his creation.
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
Where did man get his authority to say what pleases God? When men speak their own words, they seek their own glory.
“He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him” (John 7:18).
Not even the Holy Spirit spoke his own words.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).
If neither Christ nor the Holy Spirit used their own words, what is man that he would use his own words to declare what pleases God?
Why not let God speak for Himself? Surely if he was wise enough to create the world and us, he is wise enough to say what he means and mean what he says.
Thank you for sharing this with me I am going through some Ephesians 6 :12 for we fight not against flesh and blood but against the deposit isms against the powers against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural is here. And they rule over the court who have my children. But God is over them and the next verse says to have the armour of God and I wear it every day.the helmet of salvation the breastplate of righteousnessthe sword of the word shield of faith the belt of the truth and the feet of the gospel of peace .perfect way far from it but I go to God every day he is my example of how to live and I share that with people.but principalities and evil in high places difficult times remaining in my faith and it is not easy when social media shows people hurting the same sweet children that I’m trying to fight back in the family courts for I was targeted because of my soon to be ex husband and some people think I’m crazy I’m not I just love God and my children and I want them back I have a place ,buts it’s in the city , I’m from the country the city rejects God I pray and study his word every day ,I need a miracle I believe God can he has done it before my children are not happy in foster care and they 3 are not with family I have 6 , 3 in Ny and 3 in Fl but I want all of my family together before that God calls us home and it is my hearts desire to follow him and have and provide for my children and do his will for my life .If you could find it in your heart to say a prayer for me I would appreciate it.I always take and took care of my family and prayed for them.
Allison,
It really sounds like you are having some heavy trials. Loosing your children to the system has to be almost as bad as a death, but losing your husband too is worse.
I see you are studying deeper things in the scripture. You will be blessed to know and understand these things. There is a section on this blog called “Deeper Studies,” which allows one to search many topics.
My prayers are with you. Your own prayers are no doubt going up every day.
Beth