Have you ever thought of yourself as guilty of bribery? Saying something like, “I have something you want, but I’m going to keep it, unless you do something that I want?” Or maybe it wasn’t an object you were using as a bargaining tool but a behavior. “I’ll do this for you, but first you must do this for me.” All of us are guilty of this way of thinking at some point in our lives.
Selfishness is a subtle personal sin of greed. I want, is our attitude, and we’re willing to engage in some form of trade. I have something you want, and you can have it if you’re willing to give me what I want. But if you won’t give me my desires, there’s no deal. Somehow, we think we are the deal makers. Thinking we are in an advantageous position.
There’s a problem with this type of thinking, primarily because it’s selfish. And selfishness is the ultimate loser.
Now let’s shift our thinking to spiritual matters. Specifically, to the subject of behavior. Have you ever told God, I’ll behave in a certain way if you give me the desire of my heart? Think for a moment! Are we guilty of that type of thinking? The truthful conclusion is yes. We are all guilty of such thinking. We forget that God is in control and we are not. The Lord is the ultimate authority, and we are not.
Submission to God’s authority is our best response. Doing what He wants, regardless of our desires, always works out for the best.
When we place ourselves in a submissive mode, we are a winner. It’s then that we have the protective hand of God shielding us from our adversary, our selfishness. By giving our desires to God and taking His desires, we become what He wants us to be. Isn’t that the better choice? No bargaining on our part. Recognizing and appropriating God in His rightful position. He is the only one who knows what’s best for all. Bribery will never work with God; it may work with man, but what is really best for our individual lives?