What are we really getting?

Have you bought any light bulbs lately? We just moved into a different house and have been replacing lots of light bulbs. I noticed something interesting on the packaging.
This was supposed to be a 75 watt bulb but look, it only uses 67 watts. I thought this is pretty cool, a regular round bulb that puts out white light and it's saving me money by using less energy. I thought that the green movement had finally given me something besides unnecessary higher prices. But my ever inquiring mind wuoldn't rest untill I looked over the rest of the package on these energy saver bulbs. Guess what I found.

We weren't getting more light for less energy! Nope! Less energy = less light.

Of course they did explain in the small print but few people do read it. I can't help but feel a little bit taken advantage of.

We are all susceptible to the emotional cry of getting something for nothing. But every time it is false hope and a dissatisfying reward.

Greg, you're making too much of this, you say. Well maybe I am, as it relates to light bulbs.

When someone replaces something we're used to then we expect it will be of equal or greater value. If the 75 watt has been replaced by the 67 watt then (my mind says) we should be getting just as much light with less energy. It happens to us in all parts of our life. Even McDonald's hamburgers have gotten smaller. It happens in relationship as Facebook and social networking sights overwhelm us with 'friends' who we never see or connect with by voice or in person. It's all more for less.

The problems really come when we do it to ourselves. More stuff in a day but less stuff done right. Quick morning devotions out of a handy 3 min. book. But what of the time and discipline it takes to delve into the Word and discover the character of God as the Holy Spirit reveals the truth of the Scriptures. When we look closely at the bargains and time savers we're offered, we often find that the new fangled thing isn't what we hoped it would be.

A relationship is never a new fangled thing! You can't boil it down. Relationships take work, investment, diligence and emotion.

Don't settle for a relationship with less 'lumen's' than is right. Go all out don't hold back.