I have been spending time in Revelation because I want to learn how to praise and worship God as they do in heaven. I must admit that I really don’t know how to do this. But I want to learn. Hence, I’m mulling over Revelation since it’s the only place in Scripture where we have such clear accounts for how those in heaven worship God and why they worship Him.
The why is probably more important than the how. The other morning, I repeatedly read that in heaven, only the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is “worthy to receive power and wealth, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise” (Revelation 5.12). What came to mind is that in the Bible, only Christ is described as “worthy” to receive anything.
The word worthy, in the Greek, means merit or value, being honorable or admirable (Logos Bible Software). When we look at the use of this word in the New Testament, we learn that the Centurion knew he was not worthy to have Christ come to his home (Matthew 8.8) and John said he was not worthy to carry the sandals of Christ (Matthew 3.11, ESV). Christ told us that if we love our parents more than Him, then we are not worthy of Him (Matthew 10.37) and he followed this up by saying “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10.38 ESV).
When the prodigal son returned to his father, he said that he was no longer worthy to be called “son” (Luke 15.19, 21). When Peter and John left the presence of the council after being beaten, they rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ (Acts 5.34). The writer of Hebrews says the world is not worthy of those who have suffered for Christ (Hebrews 11.38).
Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of our call (Ephesians 4.1, Philippians 1.27, Colossians 1.10, 1 Thessalonians 2.12). We’re instructed to think about things which are worthy (Philippians 4.8) understanding that it is God who makes us worthy in the first place (2 Thessalonians 1.11). We consider our managers at work as being worthy of our respect (1 Timothy 6.1).
Jesus Christ is worthy for more glory than Moses (or anyone else for that matter – Hebrews 3.3).
What is interesting to me is that no where in the Scriptures are we described as being worthy to receive anything. This aligns with one of the foundational passages on Christian Stewardship – Matthew 25.14-28, where the Master entrusted to his servants bags of money according to their ability (Matthew 25.15). Moreover, while our gifting and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11.29), the gifts and talents which we do have are given to us sovereignly by God (1 Corinthians 7.7, 12.4). And Moses reminds us that our ability to create wealth comes from God (Deuteronomy 8.10-18).
When people assert that they deserve this or that, it is probably coming from their deeply held belief in individual rights and liberties. While I believe that individual freedom generally aligns with Scripture, I also find that whatever liberties or wealth we have is ultimately from God. Hence, all that we have – all that we own – all that we are – is a result of God’s generosity and sovereignty.
His generosity should surface within us a deep sense of gratitude. And it should surface within us an equally deep sense that we don’t deserve anything because we are not worthy to receive anything. This doesn’t mean we are worthless (recall that God’s image is within us), but it does mean that we gain a proper understanding of our role in God’s economy. He entrusts to us that which we can rightly manage because He in His sovereignty, He gave us abilities, gifts, talents and opportunities to further His interests with His entrustments. We gladly give back to Him all that we earn and have with exceeding gratefulness because we understand we didn’t deserve any of this in the first place.
One other thing, let’s not place financially “successful” Christians on a pedestal and think of them more highly than we ought. The widow who put in two copper coins gave more than the financially successful, rich members of her synagogue. God’s assessment of success has much more to do with faithfulness and presence than it does with amounts of money. The widow gave all according to her ability. The rich in her synagogue did not. Who was more faithful to God? Who was more “successful”?
Bill English, Founder
Bible and Business
