It's so easy to spew nonsense

[Entry provoked from a posting on the Boundless "The Line" blog: "Worship Music: For God or For Us?" by Ted Slater]

I was really struck by a piece of Scripture and John Piper's sermon posted in Ted Slater's blog entry. It really challenges me to take a look at how I worship God, not only as a "worship leader," but also just as a follower of Christ. Am I so proud that I don't need to receive from Him first and I think my music worship suffices as even partial offerings?

Scripture:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16 ESV)

John Piper's sermon "The Inner Essence of Worship":

"Therefore I say to you that the basic attitude of worship on Sunday morning is not to come with your hands full to give to God, but with your hands empty, to receive from God. And what you receive in worship is God, not entertainment. You ought to come hungry for God. Come saying, 'As the deer pants for the flowing springs, so my soul pants for thee, O God.' God is mightily honored when a people know that they will die of hunger and thirst unless they have God. Recovering the rightness and indispensability of pursuing our satisfaction in God will go a long way to restoring authenticity and power of worship."

In thinking about those two things... (though the Word of God is of infinitely greater clout in my eyes), I had two thoughts...

1. We can still come to God with our hands full of our burdens. He will take them from us so we can have empty hands to receive from Him.

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22 ESV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

2. How many times have I approached worship as an offering of songs... and music... and talents--when what He wants is my life?