God Is The Source

"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. 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. 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." - Deuteronomy 8:12-18

The problem with the people of Israel had to do with focus. Oh, they knew what God had done for them, but that was then. Now they were hungry or thirsty. It was as if God had done nothing for them - at least nothing lately. We all can have a very short memory. Not much has changed!

The United States has been called the "Land of Opportunity". Millions of people have immigrated here from all parts of the world with the hop of gleaning some of that opportunity for themselves. There is nothing inherently wrong with someone wanting a better - more stable life. Freedom from hunger and sickness. The trouble comes when the fruit of the opportunity becomes a god and we lose our focus on the God who created everything we value. 

Wealth and prosperity are the gods of this country and many others. 

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:10

Notice it is not having money or possessions that is the problem - it is when they become gods (small "g"). When your devotion is focused on them. God becomes a notation in your life. Subordinate to the things of the world that He created. 

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." - 1 John 2:15-17

My purpose here is not to accuse but to caution. Living in this world is a slippery slope. It is so easy to lose focus on our faith in God and put our faith in what God has created. Be alert my friends. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone