In my heart, I’m often guilty of placing God on my “combination plate.”
“I’ll have a small bit of God and two large helpings of self-accomplishment.”
Or…
“Give me a husband, kids, a home of my own, and sure, why not, I’ll have a little God for dessert.”
The trouble with this “combo” perspective is that God describes himself as an “only” type of being. So if I want a correct relationship with Him and gain all the benefit of that relationship, then I must see Him as an “only.”
The high value our culture places on being a “self-made” man or woman adds to the problem. With enough education, time, money, and effort, I can arrange my life so that I don’t appear to have to depend on anyone or any circumstance to survive.
It’s a lie. There’s an emptiness and relationship need I have to have in order to be a whole healed person, and it does not come from others, or “things,” or success.
This aspiration, “to be independent,” is perhaps the greatest reason technology advances so quickly. Every new piece of equipment is designed to move us through life’s tasks and delays more quickly, efficiently, and powerfully.
Having to wait or remain “needy” for something is a state of existence in which I’d rather not dwell. I might become depressed if I see myself indebted, or powerless in relation to someone.
There is another other end of the spectrum that can be true, too.
I can wrongly attach myself and my happiness to be dependent on another person’s capability, or presence. Doing this holds them up to fall short of my expectations. I believe this is why “idols” fall. WE often place them high on an unrealistic pedestal.
So how can I keep God as my “only” and offset my tendency to be either addicted, or indifferent to people?
I need to look at this matter honestly. Yes, I am made for relationship. Humans are made for relationship, but the primary attachment we are designed for is to be rightly related to God. Curiously, God does not force this attachment, but He lets us choose freely our destiny in the matter. We often mistake our need of God with various “needs” of things, or humans.
King David, in Psalm 62, gets rid of the God “combo” God perspective by the words he uses when he speaks of “God only and alone.”
Verse 1 &2, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress; I shall not be greatly moved.
Again, in verse 5 and 6 the Psalm writer says, “My soul wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. He only is my Rock and Salvation……..”
Verses 7 & 8 repeat this theme with added implications, “With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is God! Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us.”
It seems that in order for us to experience the maximum benefit of a relationship to God, we need to take Him off our combination platter, and make Him the main entrée.
He alone, is to be our One and Only.
Bon appétit!