Blessed. Deuteronomy 6:12-14.

In America, we are so blessed, aren’t we? We have great food, clean water, nice homes, education, peace, friends, family, churches—what don’t we have? Is there anything wrong with being so blessed?

There is one risk. When people are blessed and life is good, they forget God. They ALWAYS forget God. It’s the same pattern throughout the Bible. It happens over and over: God blesses the people and they (or their children) fall away. It’s called the Deuteronomic principle. Yes, it is so common and predictable that it has a name. You can count on it, like the law of gravity. If we are blessed, we will fall away and forget God.

Then what will happen?

Judgment.

Some have argued that everything since 9/11/2001 has been judgment: wars, bank failures, hurricanes, floods, pandemics, economic collapse…

Check your heart. Are you seeking God daily? Are you listening and trying your best to obey? Reading the Word? Crying out to Him for His truth and His reign in your life?

Moses warned us:

When you eat and are full, and build beautiful houses to live in, and your herds and flocks grow large, and your silver and gold multiply, and everything else you have increases, be careful that your heart doesn’t become proud and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the Land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Deuteronomy 6:12-14.

Pray. Dear God, keep us humble. Forgive us when we let all our stuff, our successes and our easy, cushy life distract us from you. Help us love you, obey you, and serve you every day. Keep us humble. Never let us grow proud and lazy. Keep our hearts broken for the things that break the heart of God. We love you.

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