“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” Song of Solomon 6:3
Solomon was known around the world for his wealth. So in becoming his, the bride would find herself unimaginably rich with a new life, surrounded by servants.
But in the entire book she never says a word about any of that. Her song is not about the lifestyle the king brought her into, it is about the king himself—her love for him and his great love for her.
Imagine a widow who is very wealthy. She lives in a marvelous home. She enjoys the most exotic vacations. A man becomes romantically involved with her and marries her. He enjoys all the benefits of the life that he now shares with her. But he does not love her. He never did. His whole intent, right from the beginning, was simply that he should share in what she enjoyed.
What would you think of this man? Is he someone you would admire? No. You would call him a gold digger. You would think him selfish, dishonorable, unworthy, and you would be right.
But is it not possible to regard Jesus the same way too? He owns heaven. He can get us out of hell. He can get God’s blessing for us. That’s what we want so we “accept” him. Accept him? Isn’t that a strange way for a Christian to talk about our Savior? We would never say that about our spouse—“I accepted him or her.” No. “I love him!” “I love her!”
Open the Bible and you find something very different. Peter says this about Christians and their relationship with Jesus Christ: “Though you have not seen him, you love him” (1 Pet. 1:8). The relationship of Christ and his people is a bond of love.
How might the gold digger mentality be creeping into your faith?