“ONE THING (GENIE GOD)
What do you think about when you think about God?
The goal of the North Star journey is to introduce God for who He is, not who we want him to be. But before we learn who God is, let’s examine a common mistake people make about God. I call it “Genie God”.
GENIE GOD
Imagine a land, it’s a faraway place, where the caravan camels roam. Where you wander among every culture and tongue. It’s chaotic, but hey, it’s home.
OK, I’ll stop. (Thank you, Will Smith’s Aladdin, for that previous paragraph).
Genie God is a nice guy with a bit of sass who waits on us hand and foot. He is available to answer our demands prayers.
Even the best churches can be so enticing that they contribute to the idea of Genie God.
Genie God is a nice guy with a bit of sass who waits on us hand and foot. He is available to answer our demands prayers.
For a long time, church was not alluring. We had flannelgraphs, ill-fitting suits, big hair, and maroon carpet. Not anymore.
Today we have amazing communicators, an endless supply of inspiring music, and incredible programming. We’ve done it. We’ve made church cool. This can be a great thing, but it is easy to slip into the view that God only exists to bring encouraging messages and good vibes into our lives.
When we view God as a Genie, we run to him when we need something and ignore him like a dusty lamp when life is under control.
GOD CARES ABOUT OUR NEEDS
Before we go any farther, I should say this: God loves to answer our prayers; he cares about our needs and circumstances (see Matthew 6:25-34). Much of Jesus’s ministry involved miracles and healings. These moments had spiritual significance, but also met felt needs.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to ask God for our daily bread. We should never feel guilty for asking God to meet our physical needs and desires, no matter how small.
Even as he meets our needs, Jesus invites us deeper.
ONE THING
To understand this principle, let’s look at the life of King David, one of the most fascinating characters in the Bible. An overlooked shepherd boy becomes the famous king of the Jews.
David had frequent and very public flaws (see most of 2 Samuel). But despite this reality, scripture calls David “a man after God’s own heart.” He loved God, knew Him, walked with Him, and sought His face.
If David only had one shot, one opportunity, he was only going to ask for one thing.
David wrote many divinely inspired songs of worship, called Psalms. In Psalm 27:4, David wrote, One thing I asked of the LORD, this I will seek, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.
In this verse, David was single-minded in his request. If he only had one shot, one opportunity, he was only going to ask for one thing: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
THREE THINGS ABOUT THE “ONE THING”
David claims to ask for one thing, but technically he asks for three.
First, David wanted to be in God’s presence forever. At the time, God’s house was where his presence lived.
If God was there, that’s where David wanted to be. He planned to stay forever, not just for a weekend getaway or spiritual high.
We often hear that people fear, love, or hate God. But how many people enjoy him?
Second, David wanted to enjoy God’s beauty in God’s presence. This is fascinating. We often hear that people fear, love, or hate God. But how many people enjoy him?
Not enjoy his blessings. Enjoy him. In other places in the Psalms, David wrote Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8 ESV) and You will fill me with joy in your presence, at your right hand are pleasures forever more. (Psalm 16:11 NIV)
Finally, he wanted to involve God in every area of his life. David wrote that he wanted to inquire in God’s temple. To inquire means to ask and seek after.
For David, God wasn’t a weekend thing or a meaningless morning prayer. God was the entire point.
David truly believed that the greatest gift God could give was God himself.
IS THIS EVEN PRACTICAL?
“Bryan,” you may be asking. “Is this obsession with God even practical? You’re a pastor, David was a Christian songwriter. I’m glad you guys are hyped about God. But some of us have real jobs, Excel spreadsheets, bad bosses, bills, and kids. I can’t just hang out at church all the time, gazing upon beauty, whatever that means.”
I get your point. But what makes David’s request so stunning is when he asked. Listen to Psalm 27:1-3:
The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When enemies assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
I’m glad you guys are hyped about God. But some of us have real jobs, Excel spreadsheets, bad bosses, bills, and kids.
When David asked for God to be his one thing, he had an army camping against him, a threat of war, and a possible zombie attack (enemies wanted to eat his flesh).
These horrible circumstances make David’s more prayer intriguing. Although David needed protection, wisdom, or strong warriors, he didn’t pray for a change in circumstances. He asked for more of God. On the eve of an impending battle, David desired God’s presence above everything else.
ONE THING BECOMES EVERYTHING WE NEED
Look what happens next: For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. (Psalm 27:5-6 ESV)
When David made God his greatest obsession, He discovered God’s great provision.
When God is our one thing the rest of our life won’t fall into shambles. God is the source of all that is good: Wisdom, discernment, leadership, courage, and vision come from him.
When David made God his greatest obsession, He discovered God’s great provision.
I don’t know what burdens you are carrying today. But I know God cares. You are invited to cast all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 ESV). I invite you to pray for a change in your circumstances today. Pray for provision.
But more than anything, pray that God will be your one thing.
Let’s move beyond the view of God as our Genie. Let’s make him our North Star.
NEXT STEPS
- 1: Read Psalm 27. Write down one thing that you learned.
- 2: Today we learned that God’s greatest gift to us is Himself. Have you ever considered enjoying God? Take a moment and ask God to teach you to enjoy and treasure your relationship with Him during this 30-Day journey.
- 3: Text one friend one thing that God showed you today.
Tomorrow: Week 1, Day 4 – “One Thing (Boss God)”