The proverb ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’ reminds us that we can easily take situations and people for granted. Instead of finding awe and wonder in familiar places and scenarios, we often become blasé and complacent, and this can lead to indifference and even contempt. Sadly, this attitude has been the ruin of many a human relationship, for consideration and gratitude are necessary ingredients in successful living.
We can take this attitude even into how we view God. His faithfulness and love can be so familiar to us that we fail to be astonished by the fact that He is mindful of us and cares for us personally.
Many of the psalms help us to take stock of who God is and what He has done and therefore keep us from this complacent familiarity. They make us refocus on who He is and what He has done so that we do not fall into the trap of familiarity without respect.
David, in Psalm 18 in the Message version, says, ‘I don’t take God for granted. Every day I review the way He works. I try not to miss a trick.‘ Not taking God for granted is the first step to maintaining a healthy relationship with Him. We don’t assume we are worthy or presume on His character. We remain awed by Him. (See Psalm 8.)
Reviewing the way God works is also a key way of maintaining a good relationship with Him. We ponder His grace and mercy. We think about His forgiveness and goodness. We meditate on His unfailing love. We focus not only on what He does but how He works. Such consideration leads us to worship.
‘I try not to miss a trick’ reminds me of my desperate attempts when watching a magician to work out how he does what he does! The quickness of thee hand so often deceives the eye when it comes to magic! We need to watch God with focussed attention – not that He is trying to deceive us (as the magician does), but simply so that we are aware of Him in every scenario and exchange. Attentiveness must be our daily clothing.
God gives us a fresh start and a new way of living. Let’s be alert and do all we can to learn His ways and to live with gratitude and recognition of who He is.