More Than Worthy
Have you ever noticed how many worship songs contain the word “worthy”? It is, of course, in reference to our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ as being worthy of all our adoration and praise, honor and glory. I’ve been kind of stuck on that word recently and it prompted me to do a little digging.
“Worthy” isn’t a word we use very often in our daily conversations. So, sorry, but my brain went back to the late 80’s and early 90’s and the ridiculous comedy duo Bill and Ted and their excellent adventures. One of their well-known soundbites or film clips shows the two of them encountering someone famous and repeatedly bowing low before him or her while repeating, “We are not worthy! We are not worthy!” Nothing spiritual here. Just quirky comedy.
The word by definition means that someone or something has merit, value or excellence which makes them deserving of respect, attention or admiration. It indicates deservedness, commendable character or quality. In light of this definition, I think that most of us, like Bill and Ted, could say we are not worthy–especially before a Holy God. But our praise and worship songs are referring to the worthiness of God himself. And this has me scratching my head a bit, because in my thinking the word doesn’t give enough merit. To me, at least the way we use it, the word “worthy” kind of means someone or something is “good enough”. Maybe that’s just my own interpretation, but when I think of a vehicle, for example, being “roadworthy” it would mean that it is good enough for travel. Or a ship being “seaworthy” should be good enough to guarantee I won’t sink while enjoying my cruise. If runners are “good enough” in their long distance race times, they may be worthy of competing in the Boston Marathon. But if I say that almighty God, creator and sustainer of the universe, is worthy, I certainly don’t mean to imply that He’s simply “good enough”! He’s so much more!
My search for the meaning of this word “worthy” took me to the original Greek word “axios”. It means to have equivalent weight or value. When we sing of the worthiness of God, we are confessing his perfection and supreme holiness. When we say He is worthy, we mean He is deserving of all our affection and worship and that nothing or no one can compare to Him. Our Savior is worthy of our complete devotion. We can never give Him enough praise and adoration to equal His worth. I guess that’s why we will spend eternity worshipping Him. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things.” (Rev. 4:11) In Revelation we are also given a glimpse into an event when a scroll sealed with seven seals cannot be opened because no one is found worthy to do so. Until the Lamb of God appears. He alone is found worthy. “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev. 5:9) And then the angels, elders and all living creatures were “in a loud voice saying: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12)
Indeed, by comparison to how we sometimes use the word “worthy”, God is MORE THAN WORTHY. As I join in the singing of songs containing the word, I have found myself quietly adding “more than” to the lyrics. He is beyond compare. He is more than glorious. And He is my God. Truly, we are not worthy. But we can have a relationship with the One who is more than worthy and He deserves our worship, our devotion, our all.
