Faith for a bargain

I dog-eared this page in my devotional booklet back in August and I reread it often.  Especially think about the prayer at the end.  The suggested reading is Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16.

“We found some people who were in deep financial trouble and had to get rid of their boat. We got it for practically nothing!”

It was a bargain. It was sharp dealing. But was it right? To look for and find someone on whose misfortune one could capitalize? Greed may be the most insidious of sins because it is so accepted. Hasn’t everyone done just exactly what this family did, for a house, a car, a bicycle? Much of our lives are spent pursuing bargains, something for nothing.

Many people have the same attitude about their spiritual lives: Get as much as possible for as little as possible. God, the church, and Christianity are supposed to meet all their spiritual needs at bargain prices. There are religion shoppers, too. And there are those who think God is so desperate for souls that he will surely lower the requirements at the last moment. But as far as we know, there are no bargain days in heaven and God is not desperate.

“Lord, I don’t want a bargain. I want you.”
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