When I went to Thailand last year, a missionary told us that many older white men from western nations come to Thailand to find a young bride and take her back to their home land whether it’s America, England, or Australia. Now, you hear something like that and immediately the word that comes to your mind is “dirty old men!” These men are preying on these young women for sex! Many of these women are still in their late teens or early twenties. And the men? They are in their 50’s and 60’s! So, picture a bald old man with a beer belly walking with his arm around a young girl in short shorts barely out of her adolescent years!

But the blame goes both ways. These women also “prey” on older white men, and their dream often is to get married to one of them and go live in a western country. Why would these women do that? Because of money and security. So, the men are using the women for sex, and women are using the men for money. It’s a perfect symbiotic relationship!

You may say that if they are both happy, then who are we to judge? However, it violates the very principle of marriage which should be based on love. There is no love in that kind of relationship (although it’s possible it develops later on). They are using each other for one’s own need.

Our relationship with God is a peculiar one in that we first went to Him because we needed Him. He had what we needed. Whether it’s peace, a prayer that we want answered, or deliverance from fear of hell, God could deliver us. So, we came to Him. However, if that is all there is, if a love relationship does not develop from there, then it is no marriage. We are simply using Him for what He could give us. He is like an old man who could provide us with money. He’s like a young girl who can satisfy our sexual need….

Jesus never turned away the people who came to Him because they had a physical need. In Mark 6, people came in droves after learning that He was in town. And Jesus avails Himself to them and meets their needs, be it food or healing. However, if that was all there was to the relationship between Jesus and the people, then salvation has not happened to the people. Salvation is shown to be genuine when it is Jesus they want more than what He could give them. Just like we know our marriage is based on love when we can say to our spouse, “I would rather be poor with you than to be rich without you,” we know our relationship with God is legit when we can look to God and say, “God, I want you more than life itself!”

Are you there yet? Do you love God for God or for what He could give you? Are you marrying Him or His money (or His answers to your prayers?) Get to know Him. Feel His love in your bones until you want Him for Him.

PH