Who’s The Customer?
In these days of internet connectivity, companies have the technology to track your every move on the internet. They know which websites you visit, how long you linger, and how many times you click through to another page for more information. They bury tracking devices to place ads in front of you based on the sites you visit, and send spam targeted to where they think your interests lie. Yes, they’re literally following you around collecting information to try to further influence your shopping habits. For stores where you have a physical shopping presence, they entice you with “loyalty” cards where you can get discounts or coupons on products, all based on your common purchases. Instead of you, the customer 
being king, you’re pressured by the businesses who expend a lot of resources to understand you.
If this is bad news, then here’s the good news. Technology is reportedly advancing to enable you to determine how and when you want to be contacted in a simpler and more automated fashion. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, The Customer as a God (by Doc Searls, July 21, 2012 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444873204577535352521092154.html?KEYWORDS=customer+as+god ), the use of technology to block ads and “track the trackers” is on the rise. This is one more step in framing your online experiences to fit your needs. Washington policy makers and corporations are recognizing that consumers want to be treated as an individual, not as a group of customers owned by a business. Businesses where you spend your time and money should work to satisfy your interests, conserve your time and money.
Thinking about this customer relationship leads me to think about our relationship with God. Is it based on us a demanding customer? We ask God to spend His time and resources with us, working on issues that are important to us. That’s reflected in our prayers to him (whether brief or lengthy), our requests for money or other material goods (like that car, house, golf clubs or clothes), our need for wisdom and guidance (“What shall I do in this situation?”), and our concern for others (“Please bless my child, spouse, or parents.”). We want God on demand, expecting that whenever we call He should be right there, addressing our situation. After all isn’t that how we operate in other areas of our lives? We have videos on demand, information at our fingertips, instant everything. But, is life supposed to be all about us and what we want, or is it about God and what He wants?
God’s Word, the Bible, is very specific in the things He wants for us. He wants us to receive His salvation and His love. He wants us to prosper and be in good health even as our souls prosper. He wants us to obey Him and follow His guidance for our lives. And while His focus is on us in more ways than we can even imagine, He wants our focus to be on Him. He wants us to serve Him.
So like a strong customer relationship, our strong relationship with God should be based on several qualities:
- Trust – that we will worship and obey Him and His promises will never fail.
- Respect – for His greatness and power, and His respect for our free choice.
- Value – that in exchange for time spent with Him we will be blessed beyond measure.
- Service – to Him as He uses us to accomplish His will on the earth.
God works on our behalf to accomplish His purposes on the earth. And His most simple purpose is that everyone would come to know who He is, and to receive His great love for them. That sets in motion the great customer relationship. So who’s the customer in your relationship with God?