IT'S NOT ABOUT US

If this God is such a mean and hard taskmaster as some would suppose, then why are there so many joyful songs ending with calls to praise? If it were simply adherence to rules, wouldn’t the Psalms end in a call to strict and unemotional obedience?

There is more to consider when we realize why we are giving praise. In reading the very last of all the Psalms, we see an important truth to remember from Psalm 150 (Note ht ehighlighted words):

1 Praise the LORD; Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe 5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals 6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD Praise the LORD (RSV)
The above Psalm - the final thought of all the Psalms - reminds us that it is not about us.

It reminds me of the time when I was the minister of a wedding in Oregon. During the rehearsal, I couldn’t help but notice a young lady parading before everyone else, oblivious to the need for order during the practice. I was told that she was a friend of the bride, and she was going to sing a solo during the wedding service.

The day of the wedding arrived and the young lady strutted to the front, grabbed a microphone and belted out a rendition of “You Light Up My Life” that was so loud I believe a gentleman in the back lost his toupee. I mean, the windows were rattling during this song. She finished, slammed the microphone back into its holder and looked at the silent crowd. As I looked at her shocked face I realized that she fully expected a standing ovation. As she stomped back to her seat, I became aware of the glaring fact that this girl forgot all about the wedding; she thought the whole ceremony was about her!

I’m not here to judge her, because I believe in the light of the Lord, we all get that way one time or another. We go to church to be seen, not to seek. Here’s the truth for all time: Praise goes to God and God alone. It gets me to thinking about many of today’s churches and the rut into which they’ve fallen. Please realize that the church pleases God not when it makes itself marketable or socially exciting, but when it shows man how to put himself in humility and submission and properly praise God. Moreover, God wants a deep family-love from His people and wishes to display His love for anyone who would receive it.

God wants to be discovered, but you have to be willing to do the searching. Realize, though, that HE is the object of our worship. Not our church, not our social life, not our friends, not even our music. It's Him and only Him.