It is the opening lyrics of a familiar hymn.
“Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow…”
As simple as these words are, they are also profound. They reflect an acknowledgment of divine acts benefitting humanity, as well as an appreciation for the blessings they represent.
But, there is a problem. As many of us have found ourselves singing those words, we might confess that we are merely parroting back a familiar tune, without giving any thought to the meaning. If we truly contemplated the meaning of those words, we might find ourselves choking, or at least, struggling to sing them.
Why?
In a culture that values personal freedoms, the concept of worshipping a higher power seems hard to swallow. We also tend to claim ownership of our circumstances in life, based on the decisions we make along the way. In other words, we are more inclined to take responsibility for our own choices, along with the luck of the draw, as the deciding factors that determine our fate. On a day-to-day basis, we see no evidence of divine intervention.
So, why worship God? Is God’s ego so big that He needs constant adoration?
The quick answer to that question is that it is our ego that is in question. We have become so independent in our thinking that the idea of praising a higher power triggers up resentment. Praising anyone or anything requires an admission that we are not at the top of the heap.
The key then is to recognize that praising God is not feeding a holy ego. It is a recognition and appreciation for blessings or good fortune that lies outside our ability to control. It is an awareness and respect for a benevolent power that provides a source of hope when circumstances are clearly beyond our grasp. It is an acknowledgment that there is a higher power.
It is an expression of love and appreciation for the source of life itself.
It is a deep comprehension that we owe an impossible debt to the power of love, and the only way we can begin to reciprocate is by expressing our love and gratitude by praising the source.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.