--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For worship is, essentially, the reverse…" description: "\"For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began (and begins) when we succumb to the temptation, \"You shall be as gods.\" We make ourselves th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png" --- # For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began… ![“For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began (and begins) when we succumb to the temptation, "You shall be as gods." We make ourselves the center of the universe and dethrone God. By contrast, worship is giving God his true worth; it is acknowledging Him to be the Lord of all things…” quote by Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png) > “For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began (and begins) when we succumb to the temptation, "You shall be as gods." We make ourselves the center of the universe and dethrone God. By contrast, worship is giving God his true worth; it is acknowledging Him to be the Lord of all things, and the Lord of everything in our lives. He is, indeed, the Most High God!” [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Worship restores proper hierarchy by placing God above self, contrasting with sin’s self‑exaltation. **In simple terms:** Worship puts God first, sin puts self first. Key Takeaway Prioritize worship over self‑glorification. Themes theology spirituality humility Mood reverent serious Type religious educational When to use this quote - church services - personal prayer - faith education Key Concepts Christian doctrine sin and redemption Questions to Reflect On - How does worship influence everyday decisions? - What obstacles hinder true humility? A Different Perspective Balancing worship with daily responsibilities can be tough. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Center of the universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center-of-the-universe/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) [True worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-worth/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [Men are sponges, which, to pour out, receive; Who know false play, rather than lose, deceive. For in best understandings sin began, Angels sinn'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/men-are-sponges-which-to-pour-out-receive-who-know-false-play-rather/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [In best understandings, sin began, Angels sinned first, then Devils, and then Man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/in-best-understandings-sin-began-angels-sinned-first-then-devils-and/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Thus, after a period of about two thousand years the greatest crime became to worship a god other than the God of Moses, whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/thus-after-a-period-of-about-two-thousand-years-the-greatest-crime/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/i-have-learned-that-in-every-circumstance-that-comes-my-way-i-can/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have, Whenever you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/worship-is-giving-god-the-best-that-he-has-given-you-be-careful-what-2/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-taber/worship-is-giving-god-the-best-that-he-has-given-you-be-careful-what/) [Duke Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-taber/) > [There is no greater act of worship than giving God all of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-greater-act-of-worship-than-giving-god-all-of-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/worship-is-giving-god-the-best-that-he-has-given-you/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I think you judge yourself too severely, a quality that always distinguishes people of true worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/i-think-you-judge-yourself-too-severely-a-quality-that-always/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [True worth is as inevitably discovered by the facial expression, as its opposite is sure to be clearly represented there. The human face is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/true-worth-is-as-inevitably-discovered-by-the-facial-expression-as/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [“Guilt is like tarnish on a piece of silver. It effectively obscures beauty and radiance, but can never lessen its true value. Just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/guilt-is-like-tarnish-on-a-piece-of-silver-it-effectively-obscures/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [“Everything you have is now worth nothing and yet nothing, true nothing, is worth everything to you. For a man covered in shameful lies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cook/everything-you-have-is-now-worth-nothing-and-yet-nothing-true-nothing/) [Christian Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cook/) > [“U r unique. U r miracle. Nobody knows his true worth, until he doesn't rise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naresh-sharma/u-r-unique-u-r-miracle-nobody-knows-his-true-worth-until-he-doesn-t/) Naresh Sharma > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [My Chosen Daughter, No one can define you without your permission. I want you to be so secure in who you are in Me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/god/my-chosen-daughter-no-one-can-define-you-without-your-permission-i/) God ## More by Sinclair B. Ferguson > [Even those of us who have weak faith have the same strong Christ as others!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/even-those-of-us-who-have-weak-faith-have-the-same-strong-christ-as/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“Third, hear our loss of focus on the gospel in our songs. This is no comment on musical styles and tastes, but simply an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/third-hear-our-loss-of-focus-on-the-gospel-in-our-songs-this-is-no/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [When the New Testament speaks about the fullness of grace which we find in Christ, it does not mean only forgiveness, pardon and justification.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/when-the-new-testament-speaks-about-the-fullness-of-grace-which-we/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Every day we need our gaze redirected from ourselves to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/every-day-we-need-our-gaze-redirected-from-ourselves-to-god/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [The jewels of spiritual service are always quarried in the depths of spiritual experience. Never is this more true than in revival. Bend the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-jewels-of-spiritual-service-are-always-quarried-in-the-depths-of/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Contentment is an undervalued grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/contentment-is-an-undervalued-grace/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Where God is at the center of things, worship inevitably follows. Where there is no spirit of worship, there God has been dethroned and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/where-god-is-at-the-center-of-things-worship-inevitably-follows-where/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“God protects us from Satan even at times when we are not aware of His protection. But how can we develop Jesus-like discernment? By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/god-protects-us-from-satan-even-at-times-when-we-are-not-aware-of-his/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [The weakest faith gets the same strong Christ as does the strongest faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-weakest-faith-gets-the-same-strong-christ-as-does-the-strongest/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Do I learn through dark providences, or simply seem relieved when they are over?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/do-i-learn-through-dark-providences-or-simply-seem-relieved-when-they/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [How do we bring glory to God? The Bible’s short answer is: by growing more and more like Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/how-do-we-bring-glory-to-god-the-bible-s-short-answer-is-by-growing/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [The conviction that Christian doctrine matters for Christian living is one of the most important growth points of the Christian life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-conviction-that-christian-doctrine-matters-for-christian-living/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [The only thing of my very own which I contribute to my redemption is the sin from which I need to be redeemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-only-thing-of-my-very-own-which-i-contribute-to-my-redemption-is/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Christian contentment, therefore, is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and to be totally at His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/christian-contentment-therefore-is-the-direct-fruit-of-having-no/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [You do not become a master musician by playing just as you please, by imagining that learning the scales is sheer legalism and bondage!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/you-do-not-become-a-master-musician-by-playing-just-as-you-please-by/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) [Explore all 119 Sinclair B. Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) ## More All things quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/) [Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [Dear God, I trust that no matter what happens in my life, it is for my highest good. And no matter what happens in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/dear-god-i-trust-that-no-matter-what-happens-in-my-life-it-is-for-my/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Moderation, honey, in all things but love and chocolate. That's my motto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bretton/moderation-honey-in-all-things-but-love-and-chocolate-that-s-my-motto/) [Barbara Bretton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bretton/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/what-greater-weakness-can-there-be-than-not-to-know-what-is-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [It is more than a little ironic that "capital accumulation" once a rather tendentious Marxian view of a supposed capitalist obsession, should have become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/it-is-more-than-a-little-ironic-that-capital-accumulation-once-a/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Standing as a witness in all things means being kind in all things, being the first to say hello, being the first to smile,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-d-nadauld/standing-as-a-witness-in-all-things-means-being-kind-in-all-things/) [Margaret D. Nadauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-d-nadauld/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-murray/the-u-s-army-has-recently-removed-the-cross-from-the-insignia-worn-by/) [Chris Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-murray/) > [...God does not possess a private knowledge of Himself and a separate knowledge of all the creatures in common. The universal Cause, by knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-dionysius/god-does-not-possess-a-private-knowledge-of-himself-and-a-separate/) [Pope Dionysius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-dionysius/) Browse all 2,486 All things quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began (and begins) when we succumb to the temptation, \"You shall be as gods.\" We make ourselves the center of the universe and dethrone God. By contrast, worship is giving God his true worth; it is acknowledging Him to be the Lord of all things, and the Lord of everything in our lives. He is, indeed, the Most High God!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sinclair B. Ferguson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-of-sin-sin-began-and-begins/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "All things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-of-sin-sin-began-and-begins/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/713/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_all-things_for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-o_2600857.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began (and begins) when we succumb to the temptation…” — Sinclair B. Ferguson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sinclair B. Ferguson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For worship is, essentially, the reverse...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-of-sin-sin-began-and-begins/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/for-worship-is-essentially-the-reverse-of-sin-sin-began-and-begins/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```