Worship: Giving Back the Best to the Best
"And he…pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar." (Genesis 12:8, RV)
Worship, as Oswald Chambers describes, is the act of giving God the best of what He has given us. It is a deliberate offering, a recognition that every blessing is meant to flow back to the Giver. Abraham's altar-building near Bethel symbolizes this communion with God—a life lived between the sacred and the secular, dedicated to worship in all circumstances.
Reflection: The Overflowing Cup
Picture a cup being filled with water until it overflows into the saucer below. The cup represents our lives, filled to the brim with blessings from God. The overflow is not for us to keep but to return to Him in gratitude and love. If we try to hold on to the overflow for ourselves, it stagnates, like water left sitting too long. But when we pour it back out to God, He uses it to refresh and bless others.
The Practice of Worship
Give Back the Best: When we experience a blessing, whether spiritual, emotional, or material, worship calls us to offer it back to God. This act of surrender acknowledges that all good things come from Him and belong to Him.
Avoid Spiritual Hoarding: Holding on to God’s gifts without offering them back leads to spiritual stagnation. Like the manna in the wilderness, blessings hoarded for self can lose their life-giving vitality.
Balance Worship, Waiting, and Work: Worship is not a separate phase of life but an integral rhythm intertwined with our waiting and working. Jesus modeled this balance perfectly, living a life of constant communion with the Father while actively ministering to others.
Practical Applications
Create Altars in Your Life: Just as Abraham built altars to mark his communion with God, designate moments in your day to stop, reflect, and worship.
Live Between Bethel and Ai: Recognize that your life exists between the sacred (Bethel) and the secular (Ai). Stay grounded in communion with God even as you navigate the world’s demands.
Integrate Worship, Waiting, and Work: Instead of compartmentalizing spiritual practices, let worship infuse your daily tasks and interactions.
Thought-Provoking Questions
How can you return God’s blessings to Him as an act of worship today?
Are there areas in your life where you’ve hoarded spiritual blessings instead of offering them back to God?
How can you maintain communion with God in the midst of the world’s noise and busyness?
Prayer
Lord, You have given so much—life, grace, and countless blessings. May my heart overflow with gratitude, returning the best of what I have to You in worship. Guide me on how to live between Bethel and Ai, rooted in communion with You while serving faithfully in the world. Let worship, waiting, and work flow seamlessly in my life as they did in Yours. I trust You to lead me into this rhythm of grace. Amen.
(Credit: Adapted from Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest)