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Saturday, November 3rd (Day Twenty)
Read:
Deuteronomy 8:11-20
"Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have
gotten me this wealth.'"
Reflect:
Money is power - isn't that how the saying goes? It certainly is the way our
culture views wealth. He who has the most money has the most power, and he who
has the most power is able to generate the most wealth.
According to the Bible, this is a dangerous presupposition, and it is often one
that is hard to avoid. There is a real sense of accomplishment in working hard
and being rewarded for your diligence. However, when that sense of
accomplishment creeps over into feeling like you have created your own empire
and have done it all apart from God, you are in danger of falling into the trap
of the Evil One.
It is far better to meditate on the words of this passage, "You shall remember
the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth." On our own,
we can do nothing. Our financial resources are God's gift to us, and,
consequently, they are to be used to extend his kingdom and not our own.
Apply:
- How do people you know talk about their financial resources? How much does God's provision enter into their language?
- How often do you find yourself speaking the language of the culture with respect to wealth? What does this passage teach about the danger of such language?
Pray:
- That the Lord would guard you from believing in your heart that you provide anything for yourself.
- That you would be more thankful for the material resources God has given you, and that he would enable you to grasp them loosely and use them freely for his purposes.
