It's relationships, stupid

If you remember several years ago in a presidential campaign the slogan "it's the economy, stupid" became popular. The point was that nothing is more foundational to presidential politics than the status of the economy. Jobs, inflation, investments. These are the things that swing the vote.

I wonder if God ever looks at His creation and says "it's relationships, stupid." Now, I doubt if God would call us stupid, but He probably thinks we look awful foolish at times.

We try to make other things more important. Success. Wealth. Sports. You get the point.

We even do it when it comes to religion. I mean, think about it. Christians argue about styles of worship, spiritual gifts, and various other "doctrines."

Don't we get it? God is more concerned with relationship than anything else. He has spent all of human history trying to recover the relationship that was damaged in the Garden of Eden.

Jesus is far more than a sacrifice for our sins. (Although in our spiritual ineptitude, we often focus way too much on this aspect of His mission.) Jesus is primarily God in the flesh. Relationship lived out.

We left the Garden, so God entered the world. What was damaged with Adam and Eve was repaired by Jesus on the cross. I believe God is more concerned about fixing this world than getting us to Heaven.

If all God wanted was humans with Him in Heaven, would He really have created the world in the first place? We could have skipped this whole world thing and gone straight to Heaven.

When you look at your life and the things that seem empty, hollow, or simply insufficient, think about this. God never intended for us to strive for the things of the world. He gave us this world so we could have an abundant relationship with Him.

When you think about it, the main reason we strive for many of the things of the world is to take shortcuts in relationships. Money brings us quick friends who spend time with us for what we have. It allows us connection without having to really open up. Easy sex provides quick, artificial intimacy without long-term commitment. Popularity helps us feel important to many without having to really build trust with anyone.

Real, fulfilling life is not quick and easy. Have you ever noticed that something cooked in a Crock-pot usually tastes better than something microwaved? One is a slow process that allows things to fully cook and provides time for the flavor to develop. The other provides quick heat. Life can be the same way.

When we strive for an abundant life that has real meaning, it takes time and work. It may not always be fun or exciting, but it is far more fulfilling than the microwave life many of us settle for today.

shine!
Jason