Let's Make a Deal

NOT!

I have run across several individuals over the years who make "bargains" with God.  It goes like this, "God, if you will do this, then I will do that." Most often when the person gets what they want, they go on their merry way and completely forget their obligation to the Almighty.

The same mentality often manifests itself in  reverse, "Lord, I did this, so why didn't you do that?  Or even more open, like one girl wailed at the jail, "I'm a good person, why did God let this happen to me??"  

Truth be known, we've probably all been guilty of this kind of divine manipulation in our hearts at some point or another.  It's what is known as a presumptuous sin, the one that David asked to be kept far from. "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."  Psalms 19:13

There's good reason the words "great transgression" are used in connection with this kind of thinking. It goes like this:

1.  When we try to make deals with God we're not doing what we should be doing anyway.

2.  Our "bargains" reveal the idols in our heart, the things that we have put ahead of God.

3.  Bargaining shows that we follow God for the benefits, that our love for God is circumstantial.

4.  Bargaining says the empty tomb is not enough.


Make a deal with God?  I don't think so.  

Lord, keep me from presumptuous sins!