The Best Seat

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

When we attend certain events we often find ourselves trying to obtain the best seats. Ten rows up on the 50 yard line, courtside at the basketball game, or front row center for our child’s play. But when we come to worship we often do not think in those same terms.

For years I listened as preachers, song leaders and others made requests that people move down closer to the front instead of staying in the balcony or in the rear seats. Especially when the numbers are down, those pleas certainly made sense. When we sit closer together we tend to sing better, fellowship more and also tend to encourage those who lead us.

However, the best seat in worship is not to be found merely in its location, either front row center, or in the very rear of the auditorium. From our human standpoint, the best seat in worship is the one occupied by you, wherever you choose to sit in worship.

Many choose not to attend worship at all. This is a shame. Their seat goes unused. Their worship and praises to God are not given. Blessings that could be theirs go unclaimed.

Of course, to begin with, some have an inaccurate concept of worship to God. If we view this time as anything less than our righteous, humble worship to God, then we will miss the mark for sure.

Some view worship as simply a time to be seen by others. A few may view this time as means of promoting business relationships. Others may view worship as a “must do” activity not unlike punching a time clock at work. When the hour is up, their duty to God is over. And then there are some who may view this time as a means of self-exaltation.

To be certain, attending and participating in worship is better than not worshipping at all. However, our attitudes must also be prepared as we worship.

For example, having a concept of one place being better than another can create an occasion for favoritism or preferential treatment. James discusses this from the perspective of welcoming others in James 2:1-4. “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?”

On the other hand, Jesus addresses this from our point of view in Luke 14:8-11 as we humbly consider our position in life. "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Wherever people decide to sit in our worship assemblies, it does not trouble me. I realize that they have made the commitment to come and worship God and I thank God for that commitment. What does trouble me is to realize that others who were capable of attending had made a decision that hour to stay away from the worship assembly.

No, friends, the best seat in the assembly is not up front, nor is it on the back row. The best seat is the one that you occupy when you come to join others in worship!

In Our Daily Walk today may we never forget that God gave us this day as a gift. Let us continually thank Him and let our light shine so as to allow others to see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven!

Our thought for the day: “True worship is not lip service, but life service.”

May God bless you on your daily walk

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007