Bargain Hunting

            Do you like to go bargain shopping? Who doesn’t like a good deal, right? Nobody wants to pay full price.

            When it comes to being Christians, living out our faith, we shouldn’t really bargain hunt. Of course, we all try it. If we’re honest, how often do we try to bargain with God? I know I’ve done it.

            “Lord, if you give me this, I’ll do this. If you can get me out of this mess, I’ll come to church, I’ll never do anything wrong again. If you help me get this job, get this raise, get this promotion, I’ll give to the poor, I’ll tithe more.”

            Truth is we all do it. But here’s what we do when we try to bargain with God. First, we are treating God as a scorekeeper as if He’s up there keeping track of our works and assigning point totals to them. That’s a touchdown. It’s worth six points. That act right there is like a field goal. It’s three points. But God isn’t a scorekeeper. He’s a God who loves us no matter what. 1 John 4:8 says: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

            The second thing we do when we try to bargain with God, we presume He needs whatever it is that we’re offering. But we need Him. He’s God. He doesn’t need anything or lack for anything.

            The third thing we do when we try to bargain with God is we’re actually saying we know better than Him. We think our outcome, our desired result is better than His plan for us.

            Instead of trying to bargain with God or barter with Him or make a deal with Him, He wants us to accept His terms because He made us this incredibly generous offer, a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. If we submit ourselves fully to Him and offer our lives to Christ, He promises to give us the ultimate gift, the reward of eternal life.

            We discuss this topic in our latest episode featuring former Lions quarterback Eric Hipple.