I suppose the first question is not to know how much does worship cost, but what exactly is worship so I can answer the question above.
I love Rick Warren’s answer to that. Rick’s answer is this:-Worship is simply bringing pleasure to God.
If you eat or drink, or if you do anything, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31NCV
One of the best illustrations I can think of is found in the Old Testament
The background to this story is that David had sinned against God (I am the one who sinned and did wrong. These people only followed me like sheep. They did nothing wrong. Please punish me and my family.”)
May I say at this point that recognition is always the first step.
God responded by telling David to do a certain task which David was glad to do. David’s response is exactly what I believe is the answer to the question How Much Does Worship Cost?
Reason David headed off to the place God told him and when he arrived he was met by Araunah who owned the property God had told David to go to and offer a sacrifice for what David had done.
The owner offered to give David everything he needed to make the sacrifice. The oxen, the wood for the fire, even the piece of property were willingly offered to the king. David could have said thanks, appreciate that, it makes life easier and without much cost or effort, but notice what David says:-
”I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24).
King David recognised that if he had no investment, the sacrifice was meaningless. Here’s the interesting part, though, if David had accepted, the sacrifice it would have looked exactly like the sacrifice he finally ended up offering. In outward appearance there would have been no difference. But David refused. He would not offer something to God that cost him nothing. Perhaps David was on to something. Maybe the Lord isn’t interested in what our worship looks like on the surface.
You see, when you and I gather together weekly even in these different times (on zoom) with our brothers and sisters we can appear to be involved in actual worship. We can sing and smile, but is it just an appearance?
Or are we truly making the necessary investment into what we’re offering to the Lord?
Are our hearts really engaged with Him as we “worship”
or does it just look proper on the outside?
Are we honestly allowing God to mould and shape us with His Word throughout the week, or do we just come on Sunday morning and go through the motions?
Are you making an investment in your worship to the Lord?.
The end to this story is recorded in 2 Samuel 24:24-25 So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for one and one-fourth pounds of silver. He built an altar to the Lord there and offered whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer for the country, and the disease in Israel stopped.
Remember Rick Warren states Worship is simply bringing pleasure to God.
Keep Safe and Blessed