A recent post provoked a rather angry and blasphemous stream of commentary from a reader. Among the profane rants of this misguided individual was this:

“I have no fear of some petty god that commits and commands genocide, that kills people for things they didn’t do and that approves of slavery so much it tells slaves to never seek their freedom. I just pity it, and those ignorant enough to worship such a thing.”

Despite my arguments to the contrary, this person seems well-entrenched in her unbelief. Of course, she is not the first to question the character of our Father in Heaven.

A not uncommon question among believers and disbelievers alike is this: Why does God demand that we worship Him?

Let’s be clear: God does not compel our worship because He wants to feel good about Himself. He has created all and knows all. God has no insecurities. He needs nothing from man. Rather, His boundless love for His creation moves Him to give us what we truly need. Mercy. Grace. Peace. Joy. Hope. These are the fruits of our worship. We benefit from our veneration of the Lord. God does not, though He undoubtedly rejoices in our happiness.

But there is something else.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.

James 1:17a

Our worship concedes the truth that whatever we have, whatever we achieve, whatever we know is a gift from God. It is not of our own doing; thus, there is nothing about which we should boast – other than our knowledge of the Lord.

“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Pride is at the root of all sin. Though we can never fully escape its inestimable reach, we can seek the Lord’s mercy in our repentance. He will give it abundantly. Our worship is a confession of our sinfulness and a reflection of our desire to emulate the humility and obedience of Christ Jesus.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

We know that the Lord hates sin. We can thus conclude that He hates that in which sin is rooted: pride. Humility, therefore, is among the most treasured of virtues. Like Jesus Christ, we will find exaltation in humility. Exaltation not of ourselves as with the proud, but exaltation by God.

“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14b

I know that God needs nothing from me or anyone else. Yet He yearns for our worship. In giving it willingly, sincerely and diligently, we emulate the humility of Christ and manifest the peace, joy and hope that is in Him alone.

Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5