Don’t Sing if You Won’t Serve
I love a good worship song. The right lyrics with the right melody can stir something deep in my soul. And there’s something beautiful about a room full of people raising their voices in praise. But sometimes I wonder—do our songs mean what we think they do?
In Amos 5:18–27, God delivers a sobering message to His people. They were worshiping regularly. Their services were full of offerings, music, and religious rituals. But God wasn’t impressed. In fact, He says:
“I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies...
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.”
(Amos 5:21, 23)
Why such strong language? Because while the people were singing songs and bringing sacrifices, they were ignoring what truly matters to God—justice and righteousness.
God’s call is clear:
“But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)
This is not a rejection of worship itself—it’s a call to align our worship with our lives. Worship without compassion is noise. Songs without justice are empty. If we lift our hands on Sunday but turn a blind eye to suffering on Monday, our worship is missing the mark.
God doesn’t want our performance—He wants our hearts. And hearts that belong to Him will break for what breaks His. Worship isn’t just about what we do in the sanctuary. It’s about how we live in the streets, in our schools, in our homes, and in the systems we help shape or ignore.
This passage invites us to examine ourselves:
Do we speak up for those whose voices are silenced?
Do we care about systems that hurt the vulnerable?
Do we live in a way that reflects God’s character?
Let’s be people who don’t just sing about God’s love—but live it. Who don’t just pray for peace—but pursue it. Who don’t just ask for God’s presence—but make space for justice and righteousness to dwell in our world.
This week, let’s worship with our lips and our lives. Let’s not offer songs if we aren’t also offering our hands and hearts to do what is right.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
Prayer:
God, forgive us when our worship is hollow. Help us not to just sing about You, but to live for You. Let justice roll in our lives, and righteousness flow through our choices. Make our worship real—through compassion, courage, and action. Amen.
