A lesson in prayer from The Godfather

The movie, The Godfather, opens with a funeral director making a plea for help to the Godfather, Don Corleone.  It seems this man's daughter has been raped and at the wedding of Don Corleone's daughter this man is appealing to the Don for "justice" for his daughter.  Clearly he wants the man or men who did this to be killed and the Don rightly points out that this man is asking for more than justice, his daughter is still alive.  Odd to be getting ethical lessons from a mafia boss but he is right, the man seeks not justice but vengeance.

What got my attention when I watched a portion of the movie for probably the tenth time, was the Don's response to the request: " We've known each other many years, but this is the first time you came to me for counsel,for help. I can't remember the last time that you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my wife is godmother to your only child. But let's be frank here: you never wanted my friendship. And uh, you were afraid to be in my debt."

How often God could say that to me.  For many years I considered myself a Christian because I believed that Jesus had died for my sins but my prayer life looked like this, when I had some trouble in my life I went to the God-Father and asked Him to deal with the trouble for me.  He wanted relationship and I wanted protection and one who would come against my enemies, those who had wronged me.  I still don't invite Him for coffee as often as I should and I don't think of Him as friend often enough.

He has already something greater us than we could have imagined, forgiving our sins, making us not only friends but His children.  We can know that truth, however, and still not be His friends and children because we are afraid to be in His debt.  We take for granted that He can do things for us so we keep Him close enough to ensure availability but no closer.  That attitude is described in the letter to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3, it is being lukewarm and God doesn't like lukewarm or tepid.  We are made for real relationship with Him, friendship.  Why do we settle for acquaintanceship?