WHY DOES GOD NEED WORSHIP?
Some people wonder why God needs to be worshiped. Is it possible that a person who does not worship God will go to hell? How can a loving God do that? Without understanding the depth of worshiping God, people can draw wrong conclusions about Him. In the book of Revelation, we read that we will worship Him forever. Will it ever bore us?
Worship is not an act of duty or a form of self-imposed obligation, but an expression of gratitude from the depths of our hearts for Who God is and for the fact that He created everything, including me. We don’t ask ourselves why we should thank or honor our parents. We thank them because our hearts are naturally disposed to express this gratitude. We did not choose our parents. We are simply thankful that we have them and for raising us.
When people become big fans of famous movie stars, they can lose their own identity, completely imitating someone else. It becomes an obsession. But how true and justified is the worship of God?
The problem with such thinking is that we often consider worship or admiration in terms of people or objects. Therefore, we conclude that worship is somehow wrong. And in this sense, that is true. The Bible says that every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and in this sense is regarded as equal—regardless of skin color, nationality, ethnicity, or social status.
However, God is Perfect and the Creator of everything. God deserves worship. This can be compared to how a scientist deserves an award for achievements in science, or an elderly person is worthy of respect.
Another question arises: if God is humble and meek, does He then need worship, even if He deserves it? Even though the Bible tells us that we should worship God, this does not mean that He needs it, since He is self-sufficient and is Who He is. This is evidenced by the following Scripture:
"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (Acts 17:24-25)
Any idea that God needs our worship is unbiblical and erroneous.
Does God desire our worship? Definitely yes! "Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!" (1 Chronicles 16:29).
In John 4:23, our Lord Jesus Christ said the following words: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and 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).
The Samaritan woman, with whom Jesus spoke at the well, had a different idea of worship. In much the same way, our understanding of worship today is often narrow.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 12:1, writes: "I urge 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."
Notice that Paul uses the phrase “I urge”. This is no accident, for it is inherent in us to deviate from the truth in spiritual matters. Over time, worship can easily become mere ritual, empty of meaning.
In different English translations of the Bible, the word “worship” is sometimes used instead of “service”. In the Greek original, the word latreia is used, which means “the service of sacred worship” or “any service to God.” Therefore, both translations are correct.
First of all, God considers worship as a sacrifice of our bodies, so that we serve Him acceptably. This means offering our Self for the sake of the One who knows best what we need, since He is the Creator.
Is it an arrogant act to desire worship? Not at all. Arrogance involves a pompous sense of self-importance. The perfect God does not need to resort to such things—He is Who He is, and He knows how immeasurable His greatness is.
Therefore, instead of seeking worship out of arrogance, He knows that only worshiping Him can fill us with meaning and satisfy us, giving us peace, joy, and rest. We were created for a relationship with God, and worship is the desire to express gratitude to the One by whose will everything exists. He wishes us good, just as sincerely loving spouses wish good for each other.
That is why: “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom. 8:26). In other words, our very being strives for the One who gives everything purpose and meaning; otherwise, we are restless in our vain search for our own fulfillment. We rebel against the One who gives us abundant life.
Thus, worship is a natural response to who God is. God is not the One who seeks attention; He simply is who He is. We cannot invent a god for ourselves—one whom it would be beneficial for us to worship, placing our own dreams, ideals, and desires first, as if we were gods and He were subordinate to us. On the contrary, He is the One by whom everything exists.
Why don’t we enjoy worship? Because people don’t know how to worship in spirit and truth. Today, worship has often been reduced to singing, prayer, and attending church—and in some churches, even financial offerings. It’s no wonder that colossal amounts of money are spent on musical equipment.
People have lost the spirit and truth of worship, and as a result, they try to fill this void with something else. However, this brings them no true spiritual benefit.
Therefore, Scripture calls on the people of God: "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance." (Isa. 55:1-2).
It is not music that makes our worship special, nor is it shaking hands with a neighbor during a worship service when we are asked to do so. After all, when someone is compelled to act, this involuntary act becomes a kind of ritual in which the heart is not involved. True desire is shown when we take the initiative. There is a time and a proper occasion for everything. We cannot present falsehood or pretense to people, and this is not something worth teaching.
Likewise, praying out loud does not necessarily bring us closer to God or make us more spiritual. On the contrary, this was often done by the Pharisees, who sought to appear spiritual in the eyes of others. The Heavenly Father values what is done in secret and rewards openly. Of course, this does not mean we should avoid praying out loud, but we must learn to do it sincerely, when prompted by a heart, a pure heart.
Certainly, part of our worship includes corporate, church-based worship, but this is only a small portion of what the Lord desires. Worship is, above all, a humble dedication of our entire lives to Him. All our prayers, Bible reading, singing, financial offerings, serving others, striving to live a holy, Christ-like life, and attending church must come from the heart and be rooted in a close relationship with the Lord.
So, worship must involve the spirit and be rooted in truth. Otherwise, it becomes a lifeless and fake theatrical performance. Spirit and truth naturally express feelings and emotions, but not through a loud, showy display with strained smiles. Any honest and sincere person can sense the artificial imitation of the Spirit of God in people.
Emotions without truth lead to strange behaviors, expressions or manifestations, making worship superficial and shallow, creating only a spiritual form without substance. If feelings and emotions arise from a deep relationship with God and a love for the teachings of His Word, then that is true worship.
Worship is not merely a Sunday event—it is a lifestyle. Worship in spirit contrasts with worship in the flesh. Unfortunately, very often it is the other way around. Today, more and more people worship according to the flesh rather than the Spirit. Therefore, seeking the fleshly in worship is a sign of pride. Carnal people do not want to worship or bow before anyone, because doing so would take away the opportunity to serve their own Self.
So, God does not need worship, but He seeks worshipers in spirit and truth, because He knows that this will fill a person with meaning and contentment. The water that He gives will never leave you thirsty for anything else.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37).
“Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14).
Max Volkov in Christ
