Habits of Enhancement: Serving "The Least"

As we've been talking about family worship, we've been working to think in a couple directions. First, to think of worship as more than singing songs. Second, to think of worship in our families as how we live and order our home lives.


We've looked specifically at the idea of worship as a life offered to God. And we've looked at things like prayer, Scripture reading, and music not as worship in themselves, but important habits that enhance our lives of worship offered to God.


Many of us are used to associating the words "serve" and "worship" in the context of serving in a worship service. We serve by helping out with some part of the public worship service on a Sunday morning, whether that's acolyting, ushering, helping with communion, playing music, or leading a prayer.


But what if the words "serving" and "worship" should go together in a different way than this? What if associating serving and worship like we've known in the context of the Sunday worship service is not quite on track?
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As I pointed out in a previous post, there's a lot we can learn from the message of the Old Testament prophets -- and it's more than just stuff about Jesus. They say something about worship and service.


The prophets voice God's displeasure at the imbalance in the Israelites' witness in the world as God's people. They are known as people who worship and serve Yahweh, the God of the Exodus, the God who delivers. And they do commit their lives to the "worship" stuff: sacrifices, prayers, songs, festivals.


But they are comfortable in their ways. And their ways are such that the needy are overlooked all too easily. In fact, as the prophet Amos puts it, they'd rather buy a new pair of shoes than reach out to the needy (Amos 2:6-7).


Because of this, their "worship" doesn't amount to much at all. It's false. Sure, they can go to the temple all they want, sing all the songs, hear the Scriptures, offer their "best" to God.


God's not listening. Really.


Isaiah says it best:

What should I think about all your sacrifices? says the Lord. I'm fed up with entirely burnt offerings...stop bringing worthless offerings. Your incense repulses me. New moon, Sabbath, and the calling of an assembly -- I can't stand the wickedness with celebration!

When you extend your hands, I'll hide my eyes from you. Even when you pray for a long time, I won't listen.

Learn to do good. Seek justice, help the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:11-17)

Tough words. I don't quote these to point the finger. I quote them to point out that "worship" -- in terms of songs, prayers, and ceremonial stuff is rendered pointless without serving. There's something essential to actually meeting the needs of the poor. It's essential to our lives of worship.

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How is it that our service to the needy is an act of worship? Remember, worship is the offering of our selves -- our bodies as Paul says in Romans 12:1. It's not a feel-good thing. It's not getting "filled up" for the week. It's our actions in response to God.


As we offer ourselves to others and their needs, so also we offer ourselves to God. In a sense, the degree to which we dare to offer ourselves and our resources for the sake of others is the real litmus test for our commitment to God.


Jesus says as much in Matthew 25:31-46. The sheep -- the ones truly identified as Jesus' people -- are the ones giving of themselves and their resources to the "least."


Our service for the sake of others reveals much. It reveals our identity as Jesus' sheep.


Serving the least is not worship. But, somehow offering ourselves to others enhances our lives of worship, just a prayer enhances our lives offered to God in worship by tuning our lives to God.


Offering ourselves for the sake of others is the ultimate act of the life of worship, because in doing this we align our lives with the life of Christ, who offered himself for us. And this is the ultimate response to God's work in the world, the ultimate response to who God is: to align our lives with the one "who is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15).


And this is how the world will know God. Worship is not just for our benefit, it's for the world. In acts of giving ourselves to others we love the world, and through our lives offered to God in worship the world experiences God.


Thinking about family worship...

Do you see service to others as an act of worship?
How is your family life set up so that serving "the least" is always on the radar?
What are the difficulties in serving "the least"?
How can you implement serving the least into your family system?
Reach out and serve someone today, and reflect with those in your family how it gave honor to God.