Is it wrong to bargain with God?
I was at a Bible study last night, and a good friend of mine reminded me of a Christmas story of a little boy bargaining with God.
A small boy was writing a letter to God about the Christmas presents he badly wanted. “I’ve been good for six months now.” he wrote. But after a moment’s reflection he crossed out “six months” and wrote “three months.” After a pause that was crossed out and he put “two weeks.” There was another pause and that was crossed out too. He got up from the table and went over to the nativity scene that had the figures of Mary and Joseph. He picked up the figure of Mary, wrapped it gently in a cloth, and put it in a drawer in his room. He then went back to his writing and started again: “Dear God, if ever you want to see your mother again.!”
Funny story, but how many of us subconsciously bargain with God? God I’ll give generously at church if you bless me in my finances… or I’ll treat my spouse better if You’ll make them treat me better back…. or I’ll trust you to make a move I know you want, if You will show me how it all works out first. Perhaps we’re not so bold as to audibly say these things, but how many of us think it.
God is not a deal. He is not a negotiation. He is not a Santa Clause. He is Good. He is All Knowing. He Loves Me, and He wants what’s best for me. Besides… what do we have to bargain with anyway? All that we have came from Him.
Thank you Lord for knowing what’s best for us even when we do not. Thank you for bringing struggles into our life that draw us closer to you. May we find much value in our relationship with You, rather than seeing it as a manipulation tool to get our own selfish desires. May we be content with what we have and where we are at in life, and may You be glorified in our actions and disciplines. Amen.
