Be Careful! Beware!

Scripture:

Deuteronomy 8:10-11 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land He has given you. (11) "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey His commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.

Observation:

This verse is traditionally cited as the reason we say grace before or after meals. Its purpose, however, was to warn the Israelites not to forget God when their needs and wants were satisfied. Let your table prayers serve as a constant reminder of the Lord's goodness to you and your duty to those who are less fortunate.

Application:

In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich. It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to manage it for him.

We are warned in this passage to be careful, and beware. Of what? Becoming satisfied with the gift of God and forgetting the Giver who is God.

We are truly blessed. We have plenty of food, clothing, cars, electronics, homes. Compared to the rest of the world, we live a life of luxury. In the midst of this luxury, we have to be careful that we do not forget the God who gave us these luxuries. We must beware that we could very easily begin to worship the gift rather than the Giver. The creation instead of the Creator. The abundance rather than the Abundant One. The bounty in place of the Bountiful One. Propserity in place of the Prosperous One.

In the midst of all of our blessings, we could very easily take more pleasure in what we have, then Who gave it to us. Beware! Be Careful! Put God back at the forefront of your life, mind, attitude, thoughts, prayers, and thankfulness. He is the One who blessed you. We must never forget that. But too often, we have.

Prayer:

"Lord, please forgive me for the tmes I have worshipped the gift more than the Giver. I am so sorry for the times I have turned to what You have blessed me with in times of trouble, more than I have turned to You. Thank You for this reminder today. I love You and my heart is full of graitude and thanksgiving to the Giver of abundant life. Help this Word to stay with me from now on. In Jesus name, amen!"