I was sitting the other day, enjoying the sunshine and thinking, with questions popping into my head. Questions like 'Why can't God heal people faster?' or 'Why can't He make things "better" or at least "easier"?'. I sat and contemplated why, and suddenly I realized...
God isn't exactly about efficiency. It doesn't really seem like He has much of a deadline.
I was looking through my bible for some idea's on efficiency, and what Scripture has to say about it, when I came across something I have read many times, but thought of in a new way... Let me tell you a story. A long time ago (in a galaxy far far away)...
God had a chat with Abraham, and he said (roughly) "Let's get this small group of people to live a life of joy and justice, and then others, fascinated by their love for each other, will join them. And eventually, over time, the whole world will return to loving me"
That little chat happened a very long time ago, and in my opinion, not much has changed since.
God, being God, could've easily just have said in a big booming voice, 'Everybody love me' just as easily as He said 'Let there be light'. So, why didn't he? Seems like that would be so much easier, just to quickly have things the way He wants them to be.
God isn't like that, not at all.
The most efficient example I can think of from God's works would be The Flood, aka Noah's Ark. The world was a bad place, and He kinda wanted to change that. I like to think of it as a do-over. Nice and efficient, wipe out people, start from square 1.
Most of us know the outcome of that story. He vowed NEVER to do it again.
God isn't exactly about efficiency. It doesn't really seem like He has much of a deadline.
I was looking through my bible for some idea's on efficiency, and what Scripture has to say about it, when I came across something I have read many times, but thought of in a new way... Let me tell you a story. A long time ago (in a galaxy far far away)...
God had a chat with Abraham, and he said (roughly) "Let's get this small group of people to live a life of joy and justice, and then others, fascinated by their love for each other, will join them. And eventually, over time, the whole world will return to loving me"
That little chat happened a very long time ago, and in my opinion, not much has changed since.
God, being God, could've easily just have said in a big booming voice, 'Everybody love me' just as easily as He said 'Let there be light'. So, why didn't he? Seems like that would be so much easier, just to quickly have things the way He wants them to be.
God isn't like that, not at all.
The most efficient example I can think of from God's works would be The Flood, aka Noah's Ark. The world was a bad place, and He kinda wanted to change that. I like to think of it as a do-over. Nice and efficient, wipe out people, start from square 1.
Most of us know the outcome of that story. He vowed NEVER to do it again.
* * *
The world today is so good at being efficient. I can get the definition of "efficient" on Google in 0.17 seconds. I can go to my TV and replay they 30 seconds of the show I missed because I was texting my friends about studying together online in an hour. It seems to work so well, but...
When efficiency is the top priority when dealing with conflict and justice, violence is almost always the outcome.
Not good.
Not God.
When unlimited wealth or personal gain is the goal (which seems to be a big theme in the world today), efficiency becomes the method. When efficiency is the method, exploitation is often a result.
Exploitation is NOT love. And God is not about exploitation at all.
So, if God isn't going to use the most efficient way to get people to love Him, how does He do it?
The answer: Relationships.
He asks us to have a relationship with Him, and asks us to have loving relationships with others.
Face-to-face, real life relationships are more loving than a big booming voice. It's more personal and intimate than forced adoration. By dealing with other people, you experience life and struggles, and your focus is on the person you are talking with, instead of having 6 MSN chats with people from all around the world, while watching your favourite TV show, playing solitaire and filing your taxes.
I think it says something that we value efficiency so much, but it doesn't seem to be high on God's agenda… We always want the newest iPod, that holds so much more music so we have more choice, and have a longer battery life; or we choose to go on the computer to chat with friends while doing work instead of spending time in Creation.
There’s definitely a reason why God didn’t just do it the easy, efficient way. Maybe we should pay more attention.
When efficiency is the top priority when dealing with conflict and justice, violence is almost always the outcome.
Not good.
Not God.
When unlimited wealth or personal gain is the goal (which seems to be a big theme in the world today), efficiency becomes the method. When efficiency is the method, exploitation is often a result.
Exploitation is NOT love. And God is not about exploitation at all.
So, if God isn't going to use the most efficient way to get people to love Him, how does He do it?
The answer: Relationships.
He asks us to have a relationship with Him, and asks us to have loving relationships with others.
Face-to-face, real life relationships are more loving than a big booming voice. It's more personal and intimate than forced adoration. By dealing with other people, you experience life and struggles, and your focus is on the person you are talking with, instead of having 6 MSN chats with people from all around the world, while watching your favourite TV show, playing solitaire and filing your taxes.
I think it says something that we value efficiency so much, but it doesn't seem to be high on God's agenda… We always want the newest iPod, that holds so much more music so we have more choice, and have a longer battery life; or we choose to go on the computer to chat with friends while doing work instead of spending time in Creation.
There’s definitely a reason why God didn’t just do it the easy, efficient way. Maybe we should pay more attention.
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