What if I don’t get anything out of worship?

Frequently I have heard people express their frustration and disappointment about how they fail to get much out of worship.  This is often felt as a result of displeasure with the way leaders conduct the service or how the congregation behaves during worship.  I understand that frustration.  I have been disappointed at times by leaders and/or the congregation in an assembly for worship.

There is no solution to the problem without returning to the fundamentals of worship. so let’s start there.

1)  Worship is honoring, paying homage, expressing devotion and praise to God.  Every aspect about worship, in all its different activities, is about giving everything, not getting anything.

2)  Assembled worship is a fellowship, joint participation or sharing.  No success will be found in this when my concern is for what I receive rather than what I offer to others.  My worship is for their edification as well as His praise.

3)  Worship is exemplified in the psalms.  The emotion and feelings expressed there do not come from an external stimulus.  They are generated by a heart open to God.  Woship out of the worshipper.

What I should be looking for is an opportunity to offer my sacrifices to God, to give strength and encouragement to my brother and express my fervent emotions of faith.  What I get out of worship should be an opportunity!  If I am measuring what I am getting, I may not be worshipping.