In Deuteronomy, Israel is getting close to entering the land God promised to them. There are many reminders of the laws, ceremonies, festivals, etc. that they are to keep throughout this time, but Deuteronomy 8:11-18 stands out to me. It is completely applicable to us today.
“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:11-18).
Have you ever reached a point where you no longer needed God? Or maybe you thought you no longer needed God? Maybe you didn’t say these words out loud, but did your actions reveal your heart? We can get to a good spot in life; then we stop leaning on Him. We cling so tightly to Him while the boat is being tossed around, but when the storm disappears and the waters are glass again, we loosen our grip. We think, “Well, I am fine now. Things are good.” We put God away until our next crisis when we will cling tight to Him again. Clinging to God and being faithful to God are not conditional. God never tells us to be faithful only when it is easy or difficult. When we are told in Proverbs to ‘acknowledge in all things’ it literally means all things. Every circumstance. Every good situation. Every bad situation. We don’t only acknowledge him under certain conditions.
Israel was not only reminded to keep the festivals, statutes, and commandments, but they were also reminded to remember where their successes came from. They were reminded to give credit where credit is due. They were reminded that any success they had was a gift from God. We read a warning in verse seventeen. Beware. It is a dangerous thing for a child of God to become arrogant. It is unfair to rob God of the credit He deserves.
We live in the heart of hustle culture. We live in a self-serving and self-fulfilling society where one is allowed to take every ounce of credit for anything good. You worked for it; therefore, you receive the credit. Deut. 8:18 tells us to remember where your ability to gain those things comes from. We must praise and thank God for giving us the ability to gain the successes we have. When someone shines the spotlight on you, shine the spotlight on Christ.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
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