Forgetting God

How applicable Deuteronomy 8:10-20 is for us who live in the most wealthy nation in the world's history. It is human nature to put our trust in ourselves or other things, so when times are good we too often start to let go of God. Then it is only when things are rough we turn to him again. So it is not too surprising, then, that the gospel is spreading the most rapidly in poorer places like Southeast Asia and Africa while churches in the US decline year after year. This helps us to understand what Jesus was talking about in his sermon on the mount when it's the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst who will be blessed and who will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

But God often does grant material riches on top of spiritual riches. He was bringing the Israelites into a promised land flowing with milk and honey. I believe the Bible says somewhere "to whom much is given much is required" (100 points if you can find the passage--I can't seem to). This is our test, our opportunity to praise him with how we manage our possessions in praise to him.