Don’t Call Me God, I’ll Call You!

by Phillip Mullins

People want God involved in their lives on their own terms and in their own time.

• Some do not want to be responsible to God when they are healthy. They want to be free to chase after their desires and pleasures. Yet, when they face a serious illness, they call out for God to help.
• Some do not want God involved in their marriage. They think they know how to treat their spouse, and they don't want God's standards interfering. Yet, when they began that marriage with a wedding ceremony, they asked for His blessings on them.
• Some do not want to heed God's will on raising children. They give little thought to the impact of their example. They think disciplining them, teaching them morals, and teaching them the Bible is not all that important. Yet, when their child has grown to be a teen and they are in jail or pregnant or on drugs, they want God to storm in and fix the problem.
• Some do not want to submit to God's standards of honesty and dependability in their job or at their business. But when they are on the verge of being laid off or their business is about to go belly up, they want God to bail them out.

That is the kind of relationship people want with God, but it is not the kind of relationship He allows.

"Seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33).

"Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33).

"Present your bodies a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).

When it comes to having a relationship with God, it is either all or nothing. You can't expect God to be your Savior and Provider in times of need when you have refused to allow Him to be your Lord and King every day.