VAIN WORSHIP

By Nana Yaw Aidoo

Many are the religious people who suppose it doesn't matter how God is worshipped so long as He is worshipped. However, we as humans can never know what pleases God except God reveals it to us. Paul wrote; "For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Cor.2:11). These "things of God" can only be known "...in words which...the Holy Spirit teaches..." (1 Cor.2:13). Just as you can not know what is on my mind except I reveal such to you in words which I choose, likewise no one can know what is on God's mind on any issue except He reveals them in words which He chooses. The scriptures are the words of God (2 Tim.3:16) and in them are found these very strong words; "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7). If we do not worship God in accordance with His will but in accordance with the precepts of men, we risk being told we spent our days on earth worshipping God in vain. May that never be said of us on the day of judgement.