This brief excerpt from the book of Psalms is a good reminder for those of us who find ourselves ensnared by the wrong assumption that greatness is measured with human accomplishment. Whereas we may may be tempted to think that God is pleased most when we as the Church build large worship centers or design impressive worship services or develop expansive organizational programming, God in fact delights in those who put their faith in Him as their Lord and follow Him obediently. God does not look at the outward appearance of man; He instead sees the heart of man and can therefore judge his true motivations (see I Samuel 16:7).
The Church would do well to remember that inward transformation of the person (that is, one surrendering to the One True God as personal Lord and Savior), brings delight to the Lord. Buildings, services, and programming can be a means by which the Holy Spirit draws the soul into intimate fellowship, but these "things" are not ends in and of themselves.
If we ever fall prey to the fallacious notion that our own accomplishments as a Church are meritorious per se, we have crafted an idol out of our personal strengths and abilities. The focus then will have been redirected away from the Lord and upon ourselves as the source of worship, and God will not be pleased. Conversely, when we see that the Lord alone is the recipient of our faith, obedience, and worship, then our worship strategies can be catalytic in ushering us into the blessing of God's presence, and God truly will be pleased.
We must remember that God alone is to be praised, and He desires for His Church to revere Him and to put their hope in His unfailing love.
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