We trade dependence on God for self-sufficiency, yet wonder why we feel so empty inside.
"Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (NIV)
Have you ever cried out to God in deep need, but then forgotten Him in times of abundance? You're not alone. In Deuteronomy 8:11-20, Israel had been on a journey from exile to deliverance. And yet, every time they faced a new hardship, they repeatedly forgot what God had done for them. They didn't know how to praise their God in both the mountaintops and the valleys.
As followers of Jesus, our lives are full of times of abundance and need. Ironically, though, it's in times of plenty that we forget our Creator. We quickly praise the creation rather than the creator. But Deuteronomy reminds us to remember God’s provision in times of abundance, too. Contemporary Christians are not exempt from this struggle—rather, the risk is high for forgetting God during periods of prosperity. So what are we to do?
1. Remember Who God Is (Regardless of Our Circumstances)
As simple as it sounds, remembering God in times of plenty and need requires us to remember who God is regardless of our circumstances. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 says it this way: "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today" (NIV).
Declaring who God is does not mean forgetting our circumstances or ignoring them. David, a man after God's own heart, and author of many of the Psalms, understood this well. In one of his most famous Psalms, Psalm 42, David teaches us that we can bring our circumstances to God and remember who He is amidst them. Line after line, David pours out his problems, but he also reaffirms and encourages his weak and weary soul. Verses 5-6 are just one set of lines that illustrate this parallel: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar" (ESV, emphasis added).
Deuteronomy 8 isn't just a warning against forgetfulness in times of plenty; it's a reminder to place our hope and confidence in Christ despite the troubles we face. We must continually remind our souls: "Therefore I remember you" (Psalms 42:6b). Without this nudge, we face the danger of becoming complacent and self-reliant. Especially when life becomes comfortable, profitable, and good, we are tempted to forget God. And yet, just as the Israelites are reminded of their potential for pride and self-sufficiency (vs.12-14) and how material success can obscure the need for spiritual dependence, we must never forget our need for the one who gave us everything.
2. Remember What God's Done
Beyond remembering who God is—His character and His faithfulness—we must also remember what He's done for each of us. Salvation is at the crux of this, but life with Christ brings eternal gratitude and thanksgiving. No matter where you're at, or what you've experienced in this life, God has been for you. He provided in the lush green pastures and the foreign and exhausting wilderness.
In the most exhausting times of my life, I'm reminded of how God guided and provided for Israel in their times of hardship. Deuteronomy 8:15-16 phrases it this way: "He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you" (Deuteronomy 8:15-16, NIV). There is an importance in recognizing God's role in every blessing. In the times God gives you rest in the storms or from the storms, He is faithful and worthy to be praised.
Remembering what God has done (not just for us, but saved us from) will help us praise Him in times of plenty and need.
3. Avoid the Temptation of Self-Sufficiency
Sadly, being a Christian doesn't exempt us from life's struggles, and that includes temptation. As humans, we have an innate tendency to attribute success to personal strength and ability. Don't believe me? Think about a recent victory or challenge you overcame. Something within us wants to convince us that we're the reason we overcame and were resilient in the face of adversity. The truth is, this pride can cause us to forget God. We trade dependence on God for self-sufficiency, yet wonder why we feel so empty inside.
Deuteronomy 18:17-18 reminds us that God is who gives us the power to overcome and gain wealth, success, or prosperity. Yes, we can overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony, and yes we can overcome great adversities, but that's because of Christ's power within us. 2 Corinthians 3:5 illustrates this principle beautifully: "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV). At the end of every victory or accomplishment, we must credit God. It's Him within us who enables us to be or do anything. Once we have this perspective, we're then able to respond with gratitude and humility—a true biblical understanding of stewardship.
A Modern Day Challenge
How can we relate Deuteronomy 8:11-20 to today’s material wealth and abundance? How can we live in plenty without forgetting God? There is an immense need to foster a mindset of gratitude in our modern-day world. In a society that screams self-sufficiency and prideful ambition, we must learn to acknowledge that all good things come from God (not ourselves). Staying vigilant, even in times of plenty and success, will help us remember that true security and worth come from our Savior and Lord, not in the things we do or achieve.
Will this be challenging? Absolutely. This world screams that you need to do and achieve more to be of value. But avoiding complacency begins with thankfulness and humility. It begins with gratitude in seasons of need and plenty. It extends humility in all seasons, knowing it's not we who sustain our lives, but the one who created us. Friends, let us not just remember our Lord in times of need, but great prosperity. Reflecting on your relationship with God in every season will ground your faith in who God is and what He's done for you, regardless of where you are.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/kieferpix
