.....better

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full John 10:10

At the wedding rehearsal, a groom slipped the preacher $100 and said, “When we get to the vows, could you leave out the part about ‘love, honor, cherish, and be faithful forever’? The preacher nodded, took the money, and the groom walked away feeling pretty confident.

At the ceremony, when it was time for the vows, the preacher looked him dead in the eye and said, “Do you promise to obey her every wish, serve her breakfast in bed daily, and vow never to even glance at another woman, as long as you both shall live?” The groom stammered, “Yes…” Afterward, he whispered angrily, “I thought we had a deal!” The preacher slipped the $100 back into his hand and whispered, “Sorry. She made me a better offer.”

We live in a world filled with offers, but not all offers are worth taking — especially the ones Satan puts on the table. This story reminds me of how temptation works. When it comes to our relationship with God, Satan whispers, "I’ll make it easier. You don’t need to go all in. Let’s just skip the commitment part." It sounds appealing at first — less sacrifice, fewer restrictions, no need for full obedience.

But here’s the catch -- what Satan offers is a cheap imitation of the real thing, and it always comes with strings attached. His promises are like that $100 bribe: tempting in the moment, but they are selfish and short-sighted, and will destroy us in the end.

In contrast, God also makes us an offer, but it's not a shortcut. It's a covenant. He invites us into a life of love, faithfulness, and full commitment. It’s not always easy, but it’s always better, because God doesn’t offer us something temporary. He offers a life of peace and joy in his presence – “life to the full”. God’s offer may require more of us, but it also gives more to us than we could ever imagine.

So, the next time temptation whispers, “Let’s make a deal,” remember the preacher’s line:

God has made me a better offer.

- alan smith

Father, help me to see through the lies of the enemy. When I’m tempted to take the easy way out, remind me of your better offer. Give me strength to say “no” to the things that pull me away from you, and “yes” to the life you’ve called me to live. In Jesus’ name, amen.