(September 29, 2025) Mama Lava challenges us regarding our true worship of God.

Worship has several aspects such as singing, praising, thanking, pursuing, and honouring. But here I want to discuss worship through service and good deeds. We all do ‘good deeds’ daily…. we serve someone, something, or many people and things— the ‘good’ we pursue.

And I want to ask a question, dear readers, dear friends— is our definition of ‘good’ aligned with God’s?

Preceptive of Our Definition of Good Deeds
In this connection I’ve been asking myself the following five questions, and now I ask you:

1. Think about your current goals.
Once achieved, what is the outcome? Wealth? Freedom? Status?
2. What knowledge do you pursue and why?
What is your growing understanding leading you towards? Intellect? Position? Admiration?
3. What brings you joy?
Food? Comfort? Conversation? What does it say about the desires of your heart?
4. What makes you secure?
People? Money? Physical safety? How much do you invest in it?
5. For what do you sacrifice?
Family? Employment? Beauty? Why do you want it so badly?

Problem with Our Definition of ‘Good’
Actually there are many questions and most of the answers are good, are they not? But do you agree with me when I say none of them matters even one second past death? These ‘good’ answers don’t speak eloquently for us when we stand before God in eternity.

Oh, they will say something, but probably not what hope they will. They won’t say we’re Godly. They will only prove we worshiped and served what was important and acceptable to us.

The truth is, unless we strive with the Lord, on what is important to Him, we strive in vain.

The Bible says: ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep’ (Psalm 127:1-2NKJV).

Even the things we do which society calls good are done in vain as far as the Lord is concerned, unless we’re striving with Him!

How do we know where, when, and what God is doing?

• We focus on Him.
• We study His word.
• We know His voice and hear His commands.
• We don’t pursue our own agenda.
• We set ourselves about His agenda!

Elevation of anything or anyone other than God is worship misplaced. There are too many distractions to number. And our enemy makes them sparkle.

Elevation of anything or anyone other than God is worship misplaced. We can serve others, fight for causes, and be as philanthropic as we want, but if it isn’t what God asks of us, we aren’t pleasing Him by doing it.

‘And Samuel said, ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams’ (1Samuel 15:22NKJV emphasis mine).

Will you stop and digest that with me for a minute? Good deeds, if they aren’t done in obedience to what God asks, may be acts of worship, but not worship of Him. Relying on our good deeds to outweigh our bad ones when we stand before the Lord won’t work. Our definition of ‘good’ isn’t even the same as God’s!

It is impossible to please God without the faith to follow Him. Hebrews 11:6NKJV points out that ‘… without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.’

Did you notice that Psalm 127:2 (above) says that when we strive in vain, we reap anxiety? Offering our best to any effort which does not elevate our Lord is inherently unfulfilling. This is what King Solomon realised when he warned us: ‘Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, and a striving after wind’ (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 &14ESV).

Positiveness of God’s Definition of ‘Good’
So, what does bring fulfillment? Where should we focus our efforts?

Paul tells us: ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them’ (Ephesians 2:10).

When we walk in the good works which God has prepared for us, and accept His definition of what is good, we will do everything with Him. The prerequisite is that we know Him, study His word, listen to His voice, and surrender to His plan.

Again I remind us that daily we serve someone, something, or many people and things. But there is only one correct recipient of our worship.

Luke 4:8 records that Jesus told us who— ‘It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”’ 

My friends, let’s be sure our definition of ‘good’ is aligned with God’s. Let us—

• Get worship right.
• Serve only God.
• Strive with Him for eternal treasure.
• Find our purpose and our rest in Him.

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Mama Lava delights to share openly and honestly from her heart. She sincerely believes in making the big world a bit smaller through caringly connecting, that Jesus wants to remove our anxieties and give us His joy. In her encouragements, Mama Lava regularly tells of life experiences from an unapologetically Christian viewpoint. Link: Mama Lava’s Back Porch (Doses of Maternal Love).
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