MAN AND WORSHIP
“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made – Genesis 2:3.”
That God rested on the seventh day does not mean He was weak or tired. It was an allowance God had to create to teach man the necessity and principle of rest. There are theories where people assume (defintely, it is not a belief; it must be an assumption) that the reason God rested was because He got tired. To those set of people, what the Word of God has for you is –
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?... – Is. 40:28.”Therefore, it was not lack of strength or want of it that made Him to rest. Then, it is a question to us now: what was the original reason for God to have rested on the seventh day?
First, He had finished His work. Therefore, He created an order for man to follow that there is need for rest after work. Every man who misplaces the order stand the chance of losing their life, health and productivity. We have people who love rest than wok. In fact, they are like the Greek people of old who preferred leisure to work spending their whole time at the amphitheaters, oratory halls and the coliseum for what they called pleasure forgetting that -
“But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth – 1Tim. 5:6.”Also,
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich – Pro. 21:17.”
While we are still addressing the people of “all
play and no work”, on the other hand, there is another group who sees rest as
an accursed thing. Theirs is work, work and work. They are called “all work and
no play” people. No wonder, bodily, most people are suffering from all kinds of
ailment known and unknown to man. Why? It is because we have neglected the
order and the principle God gave us. Well, today’s lesson is not focusing on
“MAN AND REST.” Hence, the need to proceed with the series.
Now, what could have been another reason other
than rest for God to ordain the seventh day for man? By all biblical
indications and examples, it is narrowed to just one point – WORSHIP. God
created man for Worship too. So, we can say a typical day or week of man comprises
of two duties allowed by God. They are work and worship. God created man for
work and worship.
In the book of Exodus chapter twenty where the Law was given, the explicit command of God is in this wise, first of worship –
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy – Ex. 20:8.”Second, of work –
“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work – Ex. 20:9.”Expounding upon the first, the man of God had to explain thus:
“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates – Ex. 20:10.”
When the tempter came to Jesus Christ, in one of the trials when he was demanding worship, the Lord had to tell him –
“…for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve – Lk. 4:8.”As much as we are commandeded to work, let us also know that God created us for worship. In fact, those who have mastered their work know very well that it is to God a channel of worship. The whole law according to Jesus is divided into two – love God and love your neighbour. Also, in another sense, it is divided into two – Worship God and Work. The two must be accepted, acknowledged and affirmed. Have you worshipped God today? If you haven’t, please do. If you have worshipped, work!
WORSHIP GREETINGS
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