Am I Working or Worshipping?

Am I Working or Worshipping?

I’ll admit it: I’m one of those people who can’t sit still in church. When I walk into a sanctuary, my eyes instantly scan the room. The lights. The chairs. The sound booth. My brain says, “What needs fixing? Where can I help?”

Serving is good. But here’s the problem: sometimes I get so caught up in doing the work of the Lord that I forget to be with the Lord of the work.

The Question

So how do we know when our serving has crossed the line from worship into striving?

The Scripture

In Luke’s gospel, we see a scene many of us can relate to:

“But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’” — Luke 10:40–42 (NKJV)

Jesus wasn’t rebuking Martha for serving. He was gently reminding her that service without surrender misses the point.

The Story

I get Martha. I really do. She saw work to be done and wanted to make things perfect for Jesus. But her busyness blinded her to the better part: simply sitting with Him.

How often do we do the same?
- We volunteer out of obligation instead of devotion.
- We get frustrated when others aren’t working as hard as we are.
- We equate activity with intimacy — forgetting that Jesus just wants our heart.

Mary’s choice looked passive, but it was powerful. She understood that the greatest act of service is first to sit at His feet.

The Application

Here are three ways we can choose worship over striving:
• Pause before you serve. Ask God: “Am I doing this out of love or out of pressure?”
• Remember your why. Service is meant to be an overflow of worship, not a replacement for it.
• Protect your time at His feet. Guard moments of prayer and worship just as much as tasks and responsibilities.

Closing Encouragement

God doesn’t just want your hands — He wants your heart. When your worship fuels your work, both become beautiful to Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the reminder that being with You is better than doing for You. Teach me to serve from a place of worship, not striving. May I, like Mary, choose the better part — to sit at Your feet. Amen.