The Danger of Prosperity

 

“When Blessings Come – Remember the Lord” – Deuteronomy 6:10-end

Dear Friends, as the children of Israel stood on the edge of the Promised Land, Moses gave them a sobering and practical warning. After years of wilderness wandering, they were about to enter a land of abundance they had not laboured for — cities they did not build, houses full of good things, wells they did not dig, and vineyards they did not plant. It was all a gift from God’s hand.

But with great blessing comes a subtle danger. Moses says:

“Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Deuteronomy 6:12 ESV)

In times of comfort and prosperity it is easy to become self-sufficient and forget our total dependence upon God. The very blessings that should draw us closer to Him can become the means by which we drift away. Moses urges them to keep God’s words in their hearts, to teach them diligently to their children, and to speak of them constantly in daily life.

He reminds them that when their children ask, “What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?” they must tell the story of God’s mighty deliverance from Egypt. The commandments were not given to burden them but to bless them and to keep them in fellowship with the Lord who had saved them.

This passage is wonderfully relevant for us today. In a time of relative comfort and material blessing, we too can easily forget the Lord. We can begin to think our successes are our own doing rather than gifts from the One who has brought us out of slavery to sin. The antidote is the same: remember, rehearse, and teach the great things God has done for us in Christ.

Pause & Pray: Take a quiet moment now. Thank the Lord for every blessing in your life — your home, your family, your daily provision. Ask Him to guard your heart against forgetting Him in times of ease. Pray for grace to teach the next generation about God’s faithfulness and to live each day with a grateful, dependent heart.

Verse to Remember: “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God…” (Deuteronomy 6:12 ESV)

Question to Consider: In what ways might comfort or success be causing you to forget your dependence on the Lord? What practical steps can you take this week to remember Him more deliberately and to pass that remembrance on to others?

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church