Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Recognizing God as Your Source
Pastor Scott
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Listen to this teaching | Related Teaching | Bible Teaching | 
Print
"And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God,"
(Deuteronomy 8:13-14)
"Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments..." (Deut 8:11). What could cause us to forget the commandments of God? The parable Jesus taught on the sower sowing the seed says we need to be careful for the thorny ground--the heart that allows covetousness to remain in our members, not purging it out or destroying it. The Scripture says that the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things enter in and begin to choke the Word of God out of our lives (Mark 4:19).
We emphasize the deceitfulness of riches, but how much time do we spend talking about the cares of the world, even the necessities? When we talk about covetousness, so often we think about avarice, about those who live some type of an opulent lifestyle. But you can have a covetous heart and be living in bare necessity. You boast in the fact that you've made it on your own, and it's not trust or faith; it's pride talking. The cares of this world have to do with the fear of lack, thinking that somehow we are responsible to provide the necessities, and then God will take care of the abundance. The pagans are the ones that worry about those things, but we don't worry about it. Our Father knows what we have need of. Are we worried about the necessities? Where is our trust? If we're trusting in ourselves, we ought to be worried. "But take no care for what you are going to eat or what you are going to drink, for your Father knows that you have need of these things. If you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all of these things will be added unto you."
Most of us are fairly comfortable because we're not doing without necessities at this time. There could be a day when that comes. There could be a day in America when again you will have to pray this prayer in faith, "Give us this day our daily bread." I trust, beloved, that in this abundance that when you bow your head and give thanks that it is not just a habit, but also that you are truly thankful and recognize God as your source. Or do you really think your paycheck did it? Who are you trusting in? "[Be careful] when [you have] eaten and art full [that you should] bless the LORD [your] God for the good land which he [has] given [you]" (Deut. 8:10). When you pray over that food, are you truly blessing God? The covetous spirit does not just want more but is also unthankful for what you have. It's the despising of the Author, the source, and trusting in ourselves. It lacks the awareness that God is the One that deserves the glory.
"Lest when [you've] eaten and art full, and [you've] built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when [your] herds and [your] flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that [you have] is multiplied; Then [your] heart be lifted up, and [you] forget the LORD..." (Deut. 8:12-14). Is God really your source today? Examine your own heart. Is God your source? Are you thankful or has your heart been lifted up? Do you think, "I've been going to the job for twenty years; by the sweat of my brow I've earned my reputation and where I am; I went to school and paid my dues"? Are you the source? What an abomination to God when we forget whom it is that has truly blessed us.