By Scott Bullman, Associate Worship Pastor/Choir Director at Thomas Road & Director of Ministry Teams at Liberty University

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.  – Proverbs 22:1

Have you ever been asked to write a letter of recommendation or to serve as a reference for someone?  I get this request often, especially from young college graduates aspiring to become worship leaders in a church.  They know that a good recommendation can be the difference in them getting a job or not.

I’ve found over the years that talent, appearance, and personality are usually the initial attraction, but strong work ethic and good people skills are what moves a resume to the top of the list.  Yet what is it that puts a person over the top?  What is the deal-maker…or perhaps the deal-breaker?  It’s character. Integrity. A lifestyle of worship evidenced by the pursuit of personal holiness.

King David was a skilled musician, a passionate worshiper, and a great lyricist.  In fact, his words of praise and adoration to God are the basis of many great worship songs today.  Take Psalm 100 for example:

Shout with joy to the Lord all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

He made us, and we are His.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving;

Go into His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever.

In this psalm, David gives us plenty of reasons why we should praise the Lord and even tells us how to do it.  But it’s the next chapter that I find most interesting.  If Psalm 100 is the motivation of our worship, Psalm 101 is the qualifier.  David begins by stating, “I will sing of Your love and justice, Lord.  I will praise You with songs.” However David doesn’t stop there.  He qualifies his worship by saying:

1.  “I will be careful to live a blameless life.” (v.2a) - Or as the King James Version puts it, “I will behave…” This is a choice.  Resolve to “live above reproach” and protect your testimony at all cost.

2.   “I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.” (v. 2b) – Put into practice at home what you profess on the platform.

3.  “I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.” (v. 3a) – Know your weakness and set boundaries.  Yielding to such temptations could disqualify you altogether.

4.  “I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them.” (v. 3b) – Avoid bad influences in your life.  David says, “I will search for faithful people to be my companions” (v. 6). The people who influence you the most should live uprightly and encourage you in your faith.

5.  “I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from evil.” (v. 4) – Know the Truth.  Read the Word of God daily. Guard your mind of evil influences and false teaching.

6. “I will not endure conceit and pride.” (v. 5) – David is saying, I will not associate with arrogance. Neither will I allow myself to become proud and puffed up. A strong statement for a musician to make, much less a king.  Pride leads to destruction.  A cocky, arrogant spirit will damage your influence and ultimately bring you down.

David was a determined worshiper and knew very well that flirting with the distractions and temptations of this world would cause him to lose focus, and he wanted no part of that.  After all, he knew what could happen if his eyes began to wander.

My mind will be Your holy place,

A home for truth, a house of praise.

I’ll bring no sin before Your face,

O Holy God, my Loving Lord!

- Ken Bible