There was once a godless seaman who was in a boat fishing with his godless companions when a storm came up which threatened to sink the ship. His companions begged him to offer a prayer; but he hesitated, saying it was years since he had prayed or even gone to church.

Finally, upon their insistence, he offered this prayer: “O Lord, I have not asked You for anything for fifteen years, and if You deliver us out of this storm and bring us safe to land again, I promise that I will not bother You again for another fifteen years.”

That’s not sincerity. Many people only call on God in times of difficulty and then when the difficulty has passed, they tend to forget God. As it’s been said: Danger past. God forgotten. Danger present. God remembered.

From Steve Shepherd’s Sermon “Tis the Season to Worship Christ”