Weeks
In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.
Exodus 20:11
God made time. We hear in Genesis how God created light. How he created the sun, moon, and stars to “mark sacred times, and days and years” (Genesis 1:14). Time is a gift from God to us just like the many other blessings God gives us.
When God created the world, he did so in six days. On the seventh day, he rested. So, he established the seven-day week and gave it to us. He set up the routine that more or less continues to this day. Work during the week. Rest on the weekend. Christian churches still dedicate a day to gathering for worship—usually Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead.
But we so easily break that routine. The work part we have down fine. You might even be overworked or overworking. It’s the worship part that we struggle with.
Think about the most important things in your life. Your priorities. Make a top 10 list.
I’m certain you put God and/or church somewhere on that list.
Now, think about your typical week. If you have your schedule in front of you, review it. Make another top 10 list. This time, make the list in order of time dedicated to various priorities. Did the order change? Did non-priorities find their way into your list? If you were honest, where did God fall? Did he fall off the list?
The point of this exercise wasn’t to tell you that you must dedicate x hours to God each week. It’s not to tell you that other things on the list don’t have some priority. But if you, like me, put God number one your priorities list but far from number one on your time list, it’s eye-opening, isn’t it? It makes us ask the question, “If God is my number one priority, why don’t I prioritize him?”
There’s more to worship than just Sunday mornings. Worship comes from an Old English word which means “to acknowledge worthiness.” Certainly, we can and do worship God by fulfilling the callings he’s given us. But he’s also called us together as the Church, to worship together, yes, but also to work-ship together.
God wants your time. The Church needs your time. Yes, there’s plenty you can do by giving offerings. There’s also much that can’t be done just by giving money. Often, the saying, “Time is money,” is true. Think about how valuable your time is. What a wonderful gift, then, when you give it to God!
Worship means “to acknowledge worthiness.” So, the question is, “Is God worthy?” Maybe your gut response is, “Well, duh.” But just to hammer home how worthy he is, remember the best week ever. On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday, he gave his last will and testament—the Lord’s Supper. That same night he was betrayed and arrested. On Good Friday, he died for all of your sins. On Easter Sunday—yes, above and beyond a week—he rose from the dead to guarantee you eternal life.
Because of Jesus’ best week ever, we are now free in every week we live. We don’t have to spend our weeks slaving away for a God who’ll probably just condemn us in the end. We now can live our weeks dedicating ourselves to our high calling as Christians. Serving our neighbor. Serving outside the church. Serving inside the church. All because he is worthy.
How can you fill up your schedule with worship and work-ship? Talk to Pastor Strucely, your elder, or a council member. We’d love to spend time with you dedicating our weeks to God.