Vending machine God?

When I first came to Japan there were a lot of things that gave me culture shock. One of them was all the vending machines. It’s crazy in Japan. There are vending machines seemingly on every street. Not only that, there are vending machines for just about anything. Not just drinks, but hot dogs. Fried chicken. French fries. Ramen. Bananas. Five kilogram bags of rice. It’s unreal!

Still, I’ll admit that vending machines are great if only because they’re so convenient.

But unfortunately, many people take that vending machine mentality into their relationship with God. They put their figurative “coins” into the vending machine. Things like reading their Bible, praying, going to church, tithing, doing good things. And then they press the figurative button on the machine and expect God’s blessings: financial success, health, good family, happy life.

But the problem is that God’s not a vending machine. He’s not someone you can manipulate blessings out of simply by popping in your coins.

Does God want to bless you? Certainly. But more than that, he wants a relationship with you. He wants you to know him better. He wants you to understand what he’s like. How he thinks. What he values. But a lot of times, our image of him is warped. And so sometimes, he needs to break our image of what he’s like so that we can see him for who he truly is. That’s what this series is about. The question is, though, is that what you’re really interested in? Are you truly interested in knowing him?

Or are you only interested in a vending machine God who gives you what you want? You may be seeking that kind of relationship, but God isn’t. Because that’s not really a relationship. Would you want a relationship with someone who has no real interest in you, but only in what you can give them? I don’t. And God doesn’t.

And the thing is, by having that vending machine mindset, we lose out on true blessedness in our lives. Because true blessedness is not found in what we get from God. True blessedness is found in walking with God moment to moment, day to day, and seeing him for who he truly is. That’s something that a man named Job learned. Let’s take a look at Job chapter 1.

It’s not certain when Job lived, but most people guess he lived around the time of Abraham around 4000 years ago. What do we know about him? Take a look at verse 1.

There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east. (1:1-3)

Apparently, Job was a wealthy man. He lived in Uz which was in Northern Arabia. He had a big family, lots of servants, lots of livestock. Life was good. But unfortunately, his comfortable life didn’t last long. One day, God was having a conversation with the devil about him. Look at what God said.

“Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.” (1:8)

It’s worth underlining those words in your Bible because Job and his friends would have a lot of opinions on God’s attitude toward Job. But here is the truth straight from God’s mouth: He was proud of Job. In the Father's eyes, there was no one like him.

But look at Satan’s response.

Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (1:9-11)

Satan was accusing Job of having a vending machine mentality toward God. “Job only fears you because you protect and bless him. But if you take it all away, he’ll curse you to your face. He’s not really interested in you. He’s only interested in what you give him.” Deep in his heart, Satan probably believed it too. And so God said, "Okay, go after him. But there are limits. You may touch what he has, but not Job himself.” (1:12)

What was the result? Perhaps the worst day a person has ever had. In one day, not only does Job lose everything he owns, but all ten of his children are killed in a terrible tragedy. Think about that for a moment. It’s bad enough to lose one child in such a terrible way. But Job lost all ten in one day. (1:13-19)

How would you have responded? I’d like to think that I would have responded rightly. But that’s a lot to take in one day. One thing is clear about Job, though: He did not have a vending machine attitude toward God. Because though he was suffering deep emotional agony as a father, he said this:

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD. (1:21)

That’s a true relationship. A relationship not centered on what God does or doesn’t do for me. But on God himself. A God who is worthy of my worship and love.

So what happens next? Satan comes before God and God says this:

“Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited me against him, to destroy him for no good reason.” (2:3)

But Satan is undaunted by Job’s reaction. And he says, “Well, let me attack his health, and he will curse you to your face. So once again, God says, “Go for it.” But again, he limits what Satan can do. He will not let Satan kill Job. So instead, Satan afflicts him with painful boils all over his body. Job probably can’t sit or even lie down without pain (2:4-8). And at that point, in the midst of Job’s suffering, look at what his wife says.

Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die! (2:9)

That is classic vending machine attitude. “Job, you were good. You lived a moral life. You feared God. And look at what God let happen. Forget him already. He’s not worth it. Curse him to his face, and just die.” But again, Job refuses to take a vending machine mentality. Verse 10.

You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity? (2:10)

Now that said, Job is not just taking all this with perfect serenity. He’s hurting, both emotionally and physically now. And after 7 days of suffering this way, he starts to voice his pain. And in voicing his pain, he sometimes says stupid things about God, things that his friends start criticizing him for (Job 3-5). But there are two things you need to keep in mind as you read his words.

First, he never ever even comes close to walking away from God. He never comes close to saying, “I’m through with you, God.” He complains at times that God's being unfair. He sometimes even questions God’s justice. But he never says, “I’m done with you.”

Second, a lot of his stupid words are coming from his pain. Deep down, he knows that a lot of his words are stupid. But he’s hurting. And he’s just expressing how he’s feeling. You see that in chapter 6, after one of his friends had just finished criticizing him. Job said,

If only my grief could be weighed and my devastation placed with it on the scales.

For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas! That is why my words are rash. (6:2-3)

People say stupid things when they’re in pain. And the thing about God is that while he doesn’t excuse the stupid things we say when we’re in pain, he does understand them. He understands where those words are coming from. He understands our hearts. And he looks at us with a compassionate Father’s eyes.

In that sense, I’m glad he’s not a vending machine. Because if he were, and I’m just pouring in my coins of stupid words, he’d blast me for it. But God isn’t a vending machine. He hears. He understands. And he shows mercy, even when I’m being stupid. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Job’s friends.

Now at first, Job’s friends were actually pretty compassionate. They did the best thing a friend can do when someone is in pain. They just sat and mourned with Job. They didn’t say anything to him. They were just there for him. (Job 2:11-13)

It was when they opened their mouths that they got in trouble. And it was mostly because they had a vending machine theology. What do I mean? If you boil down their words, it comes down to this: Job, you must have put in the coins of sin into the vending machine. That’s why you’re suffering. But put in the coins of repentance and good works, and you’ll be blessed again. (Job 4-5, 8, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22)

What was the problem with their words? We saw it clearly in chapters 1 and 2. God was pleased with Job. He was proud of Job. He said Job deserved nothing of what Satan did to him. In short, when it came to Job, their vending machine mentality was completely off.

But that’s how many people think when it comes to suffering. “God’s allowing suffering in your life? That must mean he’s punishing you. You must have done something bad.” But when they themselves are suffering, they complain, “Why are you doing this to me, God? I put in all the right coins. I read my Bible. I go to church. I pray. Why?”

People often take a vending machine mentality toward prayer too. “God’s not answering your prayer? You must not have enough faith. If you just put in the 'coins' of faith, God will move mountains for you.” But when God doesn’t answer their prayers, they complain, “God, I’ve put in my coins of faith. Why aren’t you answering?”

But God isn’t interested in being our vending machine. He’s interested in relationship. The apostle Paul learned that in 2 Corinthians 12. He had what he called a thorn in the flesh. We don't know exactly what it was, but whatever it was, Paul prayed three times that God would take it away. I’m sure he prayed in Jesus’ name. I’m sure he prayed with great faith. But three times, God said no. Why? Because he was punishing Paul for something? No. Because Paul was somehow lacking in faith? No? Why then? Because God wanted Paul to learn something about relationship. (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)

God said, “My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).” And through that experience, Paul grew closer to his Lord. That’s what God wants.

But Job’s friends turned God into a vending machine. In doing so, they made false accusations against Job and deeply wounded him. But Job pointed out something to them that we all see: vending machine theology is too simplistic. It’s simply not true. How many evil people do you see prosper in this world. How many injustices do you see that never get righted in this life. And how many innocent people suffer as a result. Vending machine theology simply doesn’t work. (Job 9:22-24, Job 24)

But even Job found himself slipping into that theology at times. We see this in chapters 29 and 31. He basically tells God, “I’m living righteously. Don’t you see? I’m honest. I don’t chase women. I take care of my family. I’ve helped the poor and helpless. If I were a bad person, I could understand my suffering, but I’m a good person.

Other times, he practically accused God of picking on him. Of searching out any little thing he could punish Job for (7:17-21).

Do you ever feel that way? Is that how you think your Father looks at you? But think back to chapters 1 and 2. What did God say about Job? He was proud of him. He wasn’t punishing Job for some unknown sin. He wasn’t putting a microscope on and saying, “Ha! I found something!” Bam!

But that’s how Job felt. Especially with his friends telling him, “How dare you question God! You’re just a sinful maggot to him. A worm.” (Job 25)

Nice friends, huh?

And yet, the amazing thing about Job is that for all his complaints, he refused to walk away. He kept maintaining his faith.

Despite what he had said earlier about God picking on him, despite even expressing doubt that God would listen to him (10:14-20), he says this in chapter 13:

Even if he kills me, I will hope in him. I will still defend my ways before him. Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before him. (13:15-16 )

And even after more stupid words complaining that God had wronged him, that God didn’t listen to his cries for justice, that God regarded him as an enemy, he comes back around and says this in chapter 19:

But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh. I will see him myself; my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me. (19:25-27)

How do you respond when God doesn’t conform to the image you have in your mind? When life becomes hard and you don’t know why? Do you become cynical? Do you ask, “Why keep following God,” and walk away?

Job wasn’t walking away. He kept believing that God was good, that God would ultimately deal justly, and that true wisdom is found in fearing him (Job 23:10-12, Job 27, Job 28:28). But that still didn’t make things any easier for Job. Especially since God seemed no where to be found. (23:8-9).

And so in his frustration, Job started falling back into vending machine theology. “I don’t get it. I was living righteously, so I thought things would always go well with me (29:18-20). What have I done to deserve all this? You’re not being fair to me (Job 31).” Finally, he cried out:

If only I had someone to hear my case! Here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me. Let my Opponent compose his indictment. (31:35)

And then, God came.

Look at what he says in chapter 38.

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind. He said: Who is this who obscures my counsel with ignorant words? Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me. (38:1-3)

God then goes into a long speech that basically comes down to three things. First, though Job made all these accusations against God, he was ignorant of so much (Job 38-39). And that was true. Just on Job’s personal level, he had accused God of picking on him, of nitpicking his sins. And that was not true at all.

But on a more macro level, he couldn’t see what God was doing about justice in this world. He couldn’t see all the reasons God in his wisdom did the things he did. Job was a finite man with finite knowledge who couldn’t tell you a fraction of a percent of how the world was created and how things work in God’s world. And yet, he was criticizing God and his ways?

The second thing God basically said was, "You’re criticize my justice, but carrying out justice in this world is a massive job. It requires not only wisdom, but power. Do you actually think you can handle it? Then give it a shot. But look at your situation, Job. You can’t even deal with your own problems. (40:6-14)

Finally, God is not someone who can be tamed or manipulated. To this day, there are animals in this world that we can’t tame. We certainly can’t tame or manipulate God. Not by any good things we do. And certainly not by our ignorant complaints or judgments of him. God is good. And he is just. But ultimately he is God, not us, and we need to honor him as such.

In short, God was telling Job, “I know you can’t understand my justice at times or why I do the things I do. But let me handle things in my way and in my timing. Not only do I have the wisdom necessary to make right judgments, I have the power to make sure justice is done in the end. And I will make sure justice is done. In your life and in this world. Will you trust me?” What was Job’s response?

Then Job replied to the LORD: I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.” I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes. (Job 42:1-6)

Can I point something out? Job never got the answers he wanted. He never found out the reasons for all his suffering. But he got something better. He got God. He got to see his Father’s eyes. Not the eyes of a mere vending machine. But the eyes of a God who was much greater than he had ever imagined. Not the eyes of a heartless computer running solely by its programming. But the eyes of a God who cared enough to want to engage in relationship with him. A God who loved him. A God who despite all of Job’s failings, was nevertheless proud of him.

Prior to this, Job had only heard things about God. But now he had encountered God face to face. God could have just ignored him. God could have been offended by all that Job had said about him. But instead, he reached out and talked to him. And ultimately, he blessed him. At the end of this book, we find that God restored everything Job had lost and more.

So where do we go from here? How are you treating God? Do you treat him as a vending machine? As someone you’ll only associate with if life is good and he does all you expect? As someone who is easily manipulated and will do what you want if you just put in the right coins and press the right buttons? Are you going to insist he act as you demand? Or will you let God be God, trusting that he is wise, powerful, and most importantly, loving toward you?

There are things we will never understand in this lifetime. Why didn’t God stop this tragedy? Why did he allow that tragedy to happen? Honestly, I can’t answer that even in Job’s story. I don’t totally get God’s actions. But if like Job you’ll put away your questions and look into your Father’s eyes, you won’t see a God who is capricious. You won’t see a God who is unfeeling or uncaring. You’ll see a God who is full of love and compassion toward you. I know I have. The times of my greatest heartache were the times I got to see into my Father’s eyes perhaps most clearly.

Do you want to know God, truly know him? Then throw away your vending machine mentality. Seek him as he truly is, not for how you want him to be. Trust him. And as you do, he'll become more than a theological concept that you heard about or read about. Instead, you'll find yourself saying with Job, “I had heard reports about you. But now I actually have seen you.” Is that what you want?