Why doesn’t the whole world wake up every morning and pour praise upon God? If there really is a basis for worshipping God – why don’t more people do it? This is even more puzzling since humans worship naturally. They don’t worship God naturally, but worship is an instinct. We worship what we think is worthy.

Two things need to happen for us to worship:

• The object of our worship must have a quality we regard as valuable.
• We must recognise that it has that quality.

The result is we see that thing, or person, as worthy, and some form of worship takes place – we adore, we yield, we follow, we delight in.

Today this can be illustrated by the worship of fast cars, beautiful women, rich people, fancy houses, the stars, Hindu gods, Allah, pop stars, artists, musicians, sportsmen, etc. The thing worshipped has a particular quality. That quality is highly valued. The more the quality is treasured, and the more it is present, the greater the degree of worship.

For example, qualities people regard as worthy today include physical beauty, style, attitude, power (mechanical, political, financial, miraculous, Sovereign), entertaining, superlative, uniqueness, beauty, achievement.

Therefore one of two possibilities is true: either God is not worthy to be worshipped, so that is why men don’t do it naturally; or God is worthy, and men don’t recognise it – God lacks the qualities that men regard as valuable or God has qualities that they don’t regard as valuable.

The problem either lies with God, or it lies with us. Either worshipping God has a true basis or foundation, or it doesn’t.

I. God is Worthy of Your Worship – and You ought to Worship Him

Have you ever been invited by someone else to a particular ‘experience?’ “You have to try this!” “You have to see this!” “You must go there sometime!” “You just have to listen to this!” “You have to taste it!” What is our next question? “Why?” “What is so good about it?” “What is so great about it?”

The Bible says – Worship God! You were created to worship God. You were saved to worship God. You will spend all eternity worshipping God! So come and join the happy throng of worshippers.

And to that, we ask – “Why?” “What is it about God that should cause me to enjoy God?” And the Bible answers – “He is good. He is great. He saves. He cares. He is high yet He stoops down to us.”

The Bible is filled with verses which give reasons for our praise. Notice the ‘for’ explanation clauses:

• Psalm 33:8-9
• Psalm 54:6
• Psalm 86:12-13
• Psalm 99:5
• Psalm 106:1
• Psalm 107:8-9
• Psalm 138:2
• Psalm 148:13
• Psalm 150:2

God is great – He is majestic, sovereign, powerful, eternal, all-knowing, excellent, pure, beautiful, the Creator.

God is good – He is loving, merciful, gracious, kind, patient, gentle, meek, the Saviour.

The Bible is devoted to showing the glory of God in Christ. Worshipping God has a basis grounded in fact. God is more beautiful than the most beautiful sight in creation. He is greater than His greatest creation. He is a sweeter, more beautiful personality than any created personality. His wisdom is more astute, perceptive, incisive and brilliant than the most intelligent man that has ever lived. So the problem does not lie with God’s nature, but with our perception.

Now the reason why many Christians do not rejoice when they hear that God is great and good is that they do not see the link between themselves and God. They do not realise that this goodness of God is extended toward me and this greatness is extended toward me.

Imagine reading a magazine article about the achievements, power and wealth of a famous person. Now picture reading the same article, and that person is your husband or father or close friend. The link between you causes more than admiration – there is celebration – adoration. Imagine Bill Gates’ son reading an article about his father – his reaction would be much more personal.

Thomas Brooks, a Puritan, said it as follows: ‘that is as if he said, You shall have as true an interest in all my attributes, as they are my own glory…My grace, saith God, shall be yours to pardon you, and my power shall be yours to protect you, and my wisdom shall be yours to direct you, and my goodness shall be yours to relieve you, and my mercy shall be yours to supply you, and my glory shall be yours to crown you. This is a comprehensive promise, for God to be our God; it includes all.’

Worship in a Biblical sense begins when we calculate the gain that God is. We understand who we are, and who He is, and how He has acted toward us – and there is great gladness.

II. Others Call us To Worship

• Psalm 34:3
• Psalm 66:8
• Psalm 95:1, 6

Worshipping God is the most enjoyable experience for a redeemed human being.

The commands to praise are not the shrieks of a dictator’s henchman who is enforcing loyalty; they are the delighted cries of people caught up in worship, calling for agreement (“Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it tasty? Isn’t it wonderful?”). When you are thrilled, you invite others. You call on others to share your joy and join in.

Why would God inspire a book where He commands people to worship Him? Isn’t that a selfish agenda?

God allowed those men to write down those commands to praise and worship God, not because He is vain and needs praise, like a proud man needs compliments to boost His ego. God is full, therefore calling for our praise is not because He needs it.

Psa 50:10-12 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Rom 11:35-36 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Job 35:7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?

Act 17:25 Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

God let those men write down those verses as testimonies of enjoyment of God. Men who have drank deeply and come back and say – ‘You have to do this!’

God is not vain, He is glorious, and therefore the fullness, the completion, the ‘glory’ of His creatures.

Don’t think of worship as trying to make God feel better about Himself. Don’t think of worship as adding to God, or meeting His needs. If you see it that way – you insult Him.

See worshipping God as the joy of your heart.

III. Others Speak of the Joy of Worshipping Him

• Psalm 33:1
• Psalm 92:1-4
• Psalm 135:3
• Psalm 147:1

Worshipping God is not like trying to write generic cards for Hallmark.

Worshipping God is natural when our hearts are right and our spiritual sight is clear.

What was the automatic reaction of Ezekiel, John, the twenty four elders upon seeing God? They fell down – and worshipped.

God is worthy of worship. Others who have worshipped say so and invite you to it. God has no hidden agenda in calling you to worship – He is already full and overflowing.

When the angels see God, worship is automatic. When others see the glory of God, they worship.

You don’t have to make it up. Just have the right heart and be exposed to His glory.