Back in the day (what does that even mean?) there used to be bumper stickers which read, “God is my copilot.” There were T-shirts, and even a book with that name. Then there was “If God is your copilot, switch seats.” At the time (back in the day?) I thought it was all “much ado about nothing.”
In searching for an image to use with this post, I came across another good slogan: “God does not guide those who want to run their own life.” I think that one sums up what the other two are trying to get across.
Just to keep things straight, God is The One who created everything there is. Is this the kind of being you want as an assistant? How dare you try to push Him into the role of second fiddle? The slogan in the above paragraph sums that up: if you are running your own life, He won’t try to muscle in. You’re asking for “not-God,” and He seconds the motion.
Imagine you’re a multimillionaire, maybe even a billionaire. There’s someone who expresses romantic interest in you, and eventually the two of you get married. But you’ve arranged your finances so that person can’t touch your money. When that arrangement is discovered, and you have an irate spouse on your hands, how would you feel? You eventually get served with divorce papers - simply because you don’t want someone other than you getting their grubby little hands on what you’ve earned.
That’s God. He created everything in the universe (and any other universe or dimension or brane - see my post on God’s Tent). If you worship Him and pray to Him simply because you want more “toys,” how do you think He feels? It’s offensive when some goldbricker marries an old rich person just to inherit the cash and prize package. It’s worse when someone only wants “stuff” from God and couldn’t care less what God wants.
There’s a thing called common grace. Everyone who lives breathes. That oxygen is common grace. God doesn’t withhold air from the people who irritate Him. There’s always a danger, though, of taking His blessings for granted.
Do you love God for the things you get from Him? Do you turn your back on Him when things don’t go your way? That’s putting God in the role of assistant. He wants to be your pilot, not your copilot.
Don’t “marry” God thinking only of the benefits you’ll get. God is worth everything. He’s the ultimate pearl of great price. If the love of God is your motivation, then you’ll have everything you need.
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