18 November Deuteronomy 8

Remember God

Deuteronomy 8:18 (MSG) “If you start thinking to yourselves, “I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!”—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today”.

Moses warns the people not to forget God, even in times of success and prosperity. They must always remember that it is not by their own strength or efforts that they have achieved anything.

When facing hardship, it’s easy to turn to God. In moments of trouble and pain, people cry out to Him for help. However, during times of abundance and comfort, many forget their dependence on God. They begin to feel self-sufficient, thinking they can handle everything on their own. This passage warns that in times of abundance, people tend to forget the source of their blessings—God. Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV) "Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God".

The writer expresses concern that prosperity could lead to forgetting God, showing the balance we need between wealth and reliance on Him.

Hosea 13:6 (NIV) "When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me." This verse speaks to how life satisfaction can lead to forgetting God if we intentionally do not remember Him”.

Psalm 103:2 (NIV) "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. This psalm encourages us to remember all the good God has done, ensuring we don’t overlook His blessings.”

James 1:17 (NIV) "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." This verse reminds us that all good things come from God, and we should always acknowledge Him as the source of our blessings”.

In conclusion, Deuteronomy 8 is a powerful reminder that in times of abundance and prosperity, we must not forget the One who is the source of it all—God. Remembering Him in times of struggle is easy, but the test comes when we experience success. As Moses warned, the temptation to claim credit for our achievements can lead us away from acknowledging God's hand in our lives. Scripture consistently teaches us that all good things come from Him, and we must remain humble, continually giving thanks. May we always remember God's faithfulness, provision, and covenant with us, whether in need or abundance.