In Numbers 7, the Israelites are celebrating the completion of the Tabernacle and so God tells them to bring in their gifts to be uses for sacrifices and for use in the worship services and dedication. Each tribal group brings in the exact same type and number of items, regardless of the size or prominence of their tribe:

Numbers 7:12-17
“The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah. 13 His offering was one silver dish weighing 3 1/4 pounds and one silver basin weighing 1 3/4 pounds, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one gold bowl weighing four ounces, full of incense; 15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.”

And as you read through all twelve tribes, the offering list is identical. Each group is presenting to God a gift for His use and for His worship that matches those of their brothers. Each tribe could have come in trying to out do each other, showing off with more and more lavish gifts, but then the giving would have been about them, about their tribe gaining notoriety rather than God being praised and lifted up. So it was fitting and right that each tribe brought in items identical to each other, the same numbers of livestock and the same type of flour, oils and incense.

Worship is meant to be orderly, selfless and focused on God. And when we recognize that no one else’s worship is any more or any less than ours, our perspective changes. When we realize that worship is not about us, our gifts or our preferences, our perspective changes. When we recognize that the gifts we bring are special and precious and appreciated by God, then our perspective changes. Because from the first silver bowl to the last male lamb, every gift is for God, and therefore the worship. Is about God, focused on Him and meant to glorify Him.

It is never, never, for a moment about us. It is never a time to have our way, to show off our skills or to draw an eye toward our efforts. Each tribe had equal share then, and we all have an equal share now as we worship God every single day. Worship isn’t about being seen by man, but lifting God up to be worshipped and adored by all. He alone is worthy, and anything else we bring into that mix distorts that beautiful gift of love. And if you and I are going to GoLove others in a way that draws eyes to Christ, it only makes sense that we would maintain that attitude of humility in worship. No effort for God is unappreciated or undervalued. Every single one of us has an equal role before the throne of Almighty God.