I'm not going to retell the story of Jacob's ladder dream but that's where I got stopped this morning on my journey through the book of Genesis. It wasn't the ladder or the dream that stopped me; it was Jacob’s vow to God following the experience. At first, I laughed at Jacob’s pathetic, selfish response to a gracious God. But then I was reminded that Jacob's response is typical of many us. 

Jacob says to God:          

If You will be with me, and watch over me on this journey, and give me food to eat, and clothes to wear . . .   

Then You will be my God, this stone will be your house, and I will give You back a tenth of all You give me (Genesis 28:20-22). 

What a good deal for God! If You give me everything I want and make everything work out the way I want, then I'll let You be my God, give You a stone for Your home, and return a tenth of all You gave me. 

This sounds a lot like the bargaining that some of us sometimes do with God. And when He doesn't give us everything just like we want it, we sometimes use that as a “reason” not to serve Him. Does that sound at all familiar? 

Is God my God because He gives me what I want, or because He loves me, forgives me, and saves me? Even that sounds pretty selfish as I write it! 

It's an interesting concept that I could "make God my God," as Jacob said. He is already God, after all. He created me. I can accept that or not, but my decision doesn't change the fact.  

So I've decided not to make God my God; I'm going to choose to accept the fact that He is my God, and just say thank you. 

The story isn't primarily about a dream; it is about a decision. It isn't primarily about getting what I want; it is about serving God. It isn't primarily about dedicating a place to God; it is about dedicating myself to Him. It isn't primarily about tithe; it is about dedicating everything to God, not because I get what I want, but because God is God.  

When I affirm those decisions, I then get more than I could ever ask or think—a relationship with God that is not dependent on outcomes, but on the opportunity for God to be who He wants to be and should be in my life. 

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.