RIGHT WORSHIP EUSEBEIA Ευ-σεβεια
`His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.'
The Greek word here translated 'godliness' is eusebeia. It and several words from the same root, are formed from two words eu and sebomai. The little word eu is very often found compounded with some other word (as here) to give the meaning of 'right', or `good', or 'well'. Sebomai tells of the attitude of men towards God, to honor Him reverentially with holy awe. (Cremer). It is also used for 'worship'. (Arndt & Gingrich).
Sebomai is found ten times in the Greek New Testament. Six times it is translated worship: Matt. 15:99But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9); Mark 7:77Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mark 7:7); Acts 16:14; 18:7, 13; 19:2714And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14)
7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. (Acts 18:7)
13Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. (Acts 18:13)
27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. (Acts 19:27). Three times it is translated devout, and once religious. So we may see that the basic meaning of sebomai is —'I worship'. But note, the worship may be right or wrong, true or false. Matt. 15:99But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9) reads: "But in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." And Acts 19:2727So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. (Acts 19:27) tells of the worship of the idol, Diana of the Ephesians. Both these are 'wrong worship'.
Nor let us flatter ourselves that we are exempt from wrong worship. I recall an old and honored brother stating in a meeting that when we come together to remember the Lord's death, the bread should be broken and we should drink of the cup, within half an hour of the time the meeting began. This is an example of "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men"; and such worship is empty and in vain. They that worship the Father must worship Him in spirit and in truth.*
But when we combine eu with sebomai, making eu-sebomai, we emphasize the rightness of the worship. Only worship that is in spirit and in truth is right worship. Such worship must come from the overflow of grateful hearts, as we gaze upon our Lord Jesus Christ in all His loveliness and beauty and as we ponder His love that passeth knowledge. Looking upon Jesus as He walked, John exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God!" That was true worship, right worship; it is such worshippers that the Father seeks to worship Him.
Right worship is not obtained by magnificent cathedrals or beautiful music, or by any outward forms or ceremonies. Rules and regulations can never fill our cup, far less make it run over; and it is only as our hearts are filled with Christ, by gazing upon Him, that our hearts will overflow, and give forth Right Worship to Him and to His father.
But let us deeply ponder the truth that God has by His divine power given us all things that pertain unto Life and Right Worship.
We have pondered the word sebomai, as meaning 'I worship'. But it is a remarkable thing that the word, eu-sebeo, is only used twice in the Greek New Testament, and only once is it translated 'worship'. We would expect this word to emphasize the fact that it was right worship when it was used; but it may surprise us to find that it is used of the Athenians who had an altar "To the unknown God". Paul says to them, "Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship (eusebeo), him declare I unto you." May it be that the wondrous Grace of God reckoned this ignorant worship of an unknown God, by those who were 'feeling after Him', as right worship? But He is not to us an 'Unknown God', but One whom we know well: One who is our best Friend: One to Whom we owe all. As we gaze upon Him, well may our hearts rise up in true worship and adoration, until they overflow! May it be so, more and more!
“O fix our earnest gaze
So wholly, Lord, on Thee,
That with Thy beauty occupied,
We elsewhere none may see.”