Jesus said, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23, 24). All true worship or worship that pleases God must be to the right object [the God of heaven], done with the right spirit or attitude, and in accordance with the truth, which is God's word (John 17:17). On the other hand, if our worship is not in harmony with God's will, then our worship is in vain. What might cause our worship to be in vain? That is a serious question that deserves a serious answer.
I. Worship Is Vain When Men Teach As Doctrines The Commands Of Men.
When Jesus described the Pharisees of His day, He quoted Isaiah, saying, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7; Matthew 15:9). Is that not plain? Teaching as doctrines the commands of men results in vain worship! Why? Notice how Jesus further describes the action of the Pharisees: "For laying aside the commandment of God . . . you reject the commandment of God . . . Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition . . .” (Mark 7:8,9,13). Did the Pharisees not worship Jehovah? Yes, they did. But how did the Lord Jesus describe their worship? "Vain." It is so serious to teach as doctrines the commands of men, because they cause worship to be in vain, and thus those who practice or follow the commands of men cannot please God, cannot be saved, and cannot go to heaven. That is serious!
Let us not forget the consequences of teaching or practicing what is not part of or in harmony with the teaching of Jesus Christ. "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God" (2 John 9). The apostle Paul wrote, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). It is quite clear: our teaching must be in harmony with Jesus' doctrine, or else our service and worship will not be acceptable to God. But that is not all.
II. Worship Is Vain When Men Do Not Give God Their Best In Worship.
This principle is seen in many Old Testament passages. For example, of the firstborn males of the flocks that the Jews were required to sacrifice to Jehovah, He said, "But if there is a defect in it, if it is lame or blind or has any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 15:21). Later God gave this general instruction to the Jews: "You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God a bull or sheep which has any blemish or defect, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 17:1). Are we suggesting that in order to please God we must make animal sacrifices to Him? Not at all! But, it is obvious from the above verses that God would not accept from the Jews anything but their best sacrifices. Do you not agree?
Once Jesus praised a poor widow, saying, "This poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury . . . put all that she had, her whole livelihood" (Mark 12:43,44). Why was it that Jesus praised her? Not because she gave a great amount of money, but because she sacrificed and gave her best to God! Brothers and sisters, God deserves our best when we worship Him. He deserves our best general spirit. We need to come to services well rested physically, ready in our minds to worship, and with a reverent attitude. We need to sing praises with our whole heart.
We need to have Samuel's attitude when we listen to Bible lessons and sermons, "Speak, for your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:10). We need to have the proper attitude when we take the Lord's supper, when we pray, and in our giving.
If we are not giving God our best in our worship, then plainly speaking, God will not accept it. Yes, it would be vain worship! Sometimes people say, "I didn't get anything out of the worship. It was boring." We need to ask ourselves, "How much are we putting into the services?" Are we giving God our best spirit, our best attention, all of our energy and all of our hearts? How important is worship to you? Do you show that it is important to you by wearing your finest clothes? Do you show how important it is to you by attending each service? Do you show that it is important by coming on time to services? Remember, God wants our best in worship. Anything less makes worship in vain.
III. Worship Is Also Vain If We Do Not Obey God In Matters Outside The Worship Assemblies.
Do you realize that we might teach sound doctrine and during the worship assemblies conduct all activities in harmony with Jesus' law, and yet our worship would still be in vain? How is that possible? God will not accept the worship of one who does not obey Him in affairs outside the worship assemblies! Let us not deceive ourselves. We cannot imitate the world and live unholy lives from Monday through Saturday, then come to the worship on Sunday and expect God to accept our worship to Him! Coming to the place of the assembly does not wash away sins! Coming to the place where the congregation assembles does not make unclean hands clean ones! We have got to repent and put sin out of our lives before God will accept our worship!
Let us again look at some Old Testament examples. First, remember this. In the law of Moses God COMMANDED the Israelites to offer animal sacrifices to Him. Later, though, in the history of Israel, God told the Jews that they were wasting their time to offer Him sacrifices. Why would He say that? In the time of Isaiah, God said to the Jews, "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me . . . I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams . . . I do not delight in the blood of bulls . . . bring no more futile sacrifices. Incense is an abomination to Me . . . your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood" (Isaiah 1:11-15). Why would God not accept their sacrifices? Because their hands were full of blood, in other words, in matters not related to worship they were living unfaithfully! In the time of the prophet Amos, Jehovah said to His people, "I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them" (Amos 5:21,22). Why would God not accept their sacrifices, though they maybe offered the best animals? Because they lived sinful lives! To those people God had just said, "For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins" (Amos 5:12).
And what about in our time? John wrote, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). But having such fellowship with Deity is conditional. What is the condition? "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1:7). We must walk in the light of God's word, thus in harmony with it, if we want God to be in fellowship with and accept us. Brethren, two or three hours of worship on the Lord's day cannot cover or erase a week of unholy living. Walking through the door of the meeting place of the church does not magically make us clean before the God of heaven! What have we seen? None of us wants our worship to be in vain. But, worship is vain when men teach for doctrines the commands of men, do not give God their best in worship, or do not obey Him in other matters outside the worship assemblies.This item originally appeared in Truth - 22, November, 1996
