When My Pickup Died

When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. 2 Chronicles 12:1

With over 200,000 miles on it and with more than a decade of owning my pickup, its transmission recently began to fail. Rather than sink more money into it, it was time to get a new (used) truck. I found a reasonable replacement at a local car dealer, but I needed a few days to make the decision. So, over the course of the week, I got to know the salesman quite well. We test drove the truck together and we exchanged several text messages. On the day of the sale, we even spent a couple of hours interacting. Our relationship though, was completely transactional – It existed for the sole purpose of me buying that truck. Once our business was concluded, the relationship was as well.

This transactional relationship appears to be how King Rehoboam and the Israelites treated God in today’s passage. In the story, Rehoboam and his people followed God for three years. Once God established the rule of Rehoboam though, and once Rehoboam got what he wanted, the relationship was over. Rehoboam served God as long as he needed God. Once God had served his perceived purpose, Rehoboam had no further need. To Rehoboam and the people, it was a transactional relationship that existed for the sole purpose of the Israelites getting what they wanted. Once they had it, they were done.

This may sound awful, but it’s how I often approach God. When I’m facing some trial, I want God to fix my life. I read. I pray. And I seek God. Help me God! Once the crisis passes though, and once life returns to normal, I return to a life of following me. I seek God as long as I need something from him. Once my need is met, I move on. I know I’ll be back to God when the next crisis comes, but for now, I’m good.

God though, doesn’t desire a transactional relationship with us, which is a good thing, because we don’t have a lot that he needs. God’s relationship with us is an end itself. He loves us and he desires a relationship simply for relationships sake. Daily then, it’s our job to seek God, investing in our relationship with him, whether our lives are in crisis or not. God loves us and an authentic loving relationship isn’t based on what we can do for each other. In real love rather, the relationship exists simply for the relationship’s sake. We love God because he loved us and daily, in good times and in bad, we must invest in our relationship with him.