Do you go to God to get things or do you use things to get at God?
The question is similar to: Do you work at a job to provide for your family or do you use your family to get better jobs? I don’t think anyone would like the answer, “I use my family to get better jobs.” That would be wrong. That’s having it backwards. Family should come first. A man or a woman who neglects his/her family for the sake of the job has lost his/her sense of purpose.
Then, why do we think it’s okay to use God to get things? We go to Him when we are in trouble or needy but as soon as God provides, we don’t stick around. God is like a big vending machine. We put in our coin of church attendance or good behavior, and God gives us what we want. But would we ever treat our family member that way? What if I used my daughters only to get what I want?
I think you would agree with me that it is not right to use God to get what we want. However, would you agree with me if I said that sometimes our serving God is the greatest hindrance to our coming to God?
Jesus tells Martha who was so busy serving Him, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)
What did Mary do? She sat in front of Jesus and listened to Him…. (The workaholic inside of me says, “What will that accomplish? How will that change the world? Go out and do something!” I’m a Martha…)
We serve God and those around Him in order to spend more time with Him. Being with Him is the ultimate purpose. Everything else is subservient to it. Even serving God and His family is subservient to being with Him.
Jesus was not rebuking Martha for serving Him. No. Rather He was correcting her for neglecting to do something even better than serving Him. Which is to be with Him. That is what we are created for. To fellowship with Him.
You work so that you can spend time with God
You raise your family so that you can spend time with God.
You pastor a church so that you can spend time with God.
You go to school and get an education so that you can spend time with God.
Pause. Spend time with God. That is the main thing.
PH