Will worship is a “self-imposed religion (Colossians 2:23 NKJV).” Or you could say it requires “strong devotion (Col 2:23 NLT).”

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. – Col 2:23 KJV

In other words, it takes away what God can do in and through you and makes your religious piety all about you and your efforts or works.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. – Phl 2:13 KJV

It is a dangerous place to be for you and everyone around you. This makes Jesus and the very people you claim to love the most want to run from you or vomit instead of embracing you and your superiority!

Lukewarm

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. – Rev 3:16 NKJV

I know because I have been this pompous workhorse and damaged the people I love the most and our relationships. How? Paul explains in Colossians 2 what to look out for in yourself and others. We need to know what type of people to avoid. And even more importantly what type of person to avoid being.

Avoid This Man

And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. – Col 2:4 KJV
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. – Col 2:8 KJV
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: – Col 2:16 KJV
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, – Col 2:18 KJV

Motivation Matters

Weren’t you doing good works? Yes. I was always reading and studying my Bible. But it was more often than not so that I could teach others how to behave.

I was very busy in the church and in my home serving people. But, I always expected something in return from the people I was serving.

I was doing the right things but for the wrong reasons.

Private Interpretation Leads to Will Worship

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – 2Pe 1:20 KJV

Be aware that when you want to nail down some kind of doctrine instead of just keeping the Scripture in your heart, you are in danger of will worship.

Psalm 119 explains the joy and wisdom of keeping His Word.

Keep His Word

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience. – Luk 8:15 KJV
But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it. – Luk 11:28 KJV
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. – Rev 3:10 KJV

Read for Yourself

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. – 1Ti 4:16 KJV

When we read the Word for other people, we fall into will worship. We tend to lay heavy burdens on those around us to obey and submit while we justify our own disobedience. I really didn’t even realize what I was doing.

I was a Hypocrite

Be Strong

Will worship can be completely avoided by someone who is strong in faith!

So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Rom 10:17 KJV

Colossians 2:18 warns us not to let anyone beguile us in our reward.

What reward?

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Heb 11:6 KJV