Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8200 The character of the believer  »  8369 worthiness

Only God truly merits honour and praise but he graciously considers those who humbly serve him with wholehearted devotion to be worthy disciples.

God the Father is worthy of honour and praise

Psalm 145:3 See also 2 Samuel 22:4 pp Psalm 18:3; 1 Chronicles 16:25 pp Psalm 96:4; Psalm 48:1; Revelation 4:11

Jesus Christ is worthy of honour and praise

Revelation 5:12 See also Matthew 3:17 pp Mark 1:11 pp Luke 3:22; Matthew 17:5 pp Mark 9:7 pp Luke 9:35; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 3:3; 2 Peter 1:17; Revelation 5:9

People are considered worthy by others

Luke 7:4-5 Note that the centurion did not consider himself to be worthy (Lk 7:7). See also Genesis 39:4; Genesis 41:38-40; 1 Samuel 16:6; 1 Kings 1:42; Daniel 1:18-20; Daniel 2:46-48; Daniel 3:28-30; Acts 14:11-13

God considers no person (other than Jesus Christ) to be worthy by nature

Revelation 5:4 See also Psalm 14:3; Psalm 143:2; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:10-12,23

Worthiness, like righteousness, is credited to a person by God

2 Thessalonians 1:11 See also Luke 20:35; Romans 2:29; 2 Corinthians 10:18

Examples of people who are considered worthy by God

Those who put God first and deny themselves

Matthew 10:37-38 See also 1 Samuel 2:30; Luke 9:62; Romans 12:1-2

Those who suffer persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ

Acts 5:41 See also Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Peter 2:19-20

Those whose lives show Christlike godliness

Colossians 1:10 See also 1 Samuel 16:7; Ephesians 4:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Timothy 3:8-9,11; Titus 2:2; Revelation 3:4

Those who stand firm for the gospel

Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:15

Those who are faithful in the use of resources which God has given them

Matthew 25:21-23 See also Matthew 24:45-47 pp Luke 12:42-44; Luke 19:17; 1 Timothy 5:17

Those who welcome God's people

Matthew 10:11 See also Matthew 10:41-42; Romans 16:2; 3Jn 6

Examples of worthy people

Genesis 6:8-9 Noah; Deuteronomy 1:36 Caleb; Deuteronomy 34:10 Moses; Job 1:8 Job

Daniel:

Daniel 9:23; Daniel 10:19 Luke 1:28 Mary; James 2:23 Abraham

See also

5556  stewardship
5560  suffering
5878  honour
5974  value
6603  acceptance, divine
8154  righteousness
8225  devotion
8248  faithfulness
8354  trustworthiness
8445  hospitality
8622  worship
8664  praise