The Challenge of Prosperity

Thanks to those who have already requested a copy of my book. I spent a good portion of my day getting ready to fill orders and to ship off copies of my book. I had a workout this morning with my trainer, who purchased one of my books. This is a time for me to reconnect with those who were such a great source of support during my health crisis.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… When they had pasture, they became satisfied; they were satisfied, and their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot Me.” Hosea 13:6 HCSB

One of the greatest tests is when life is “good.” If the old saying is true, “there are no atheists in foxholes” the opposite may be true as well. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “…how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24 KJV) You will find, that you can’t trust in yourself, what you have or any other source of security and trust in God.

The prophet Ezekiel reveals the sins of Sodom, “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. (Ezekiel 16:49 NLT) They had what they needed and became proud and self-centered. This lead to even the worst kind of violence and sin.

Ernest Henley wrote a poem that concludes, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” (http://invictuspoem.com/?gclid=CKfAqsXb5MwCFQwxaQodZcMB2w) Those words stand in contrast to the words of the Lord to His people, I have been Yahweh your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, and no Savior exists besides Me.” (Hosea 13:4 HCSB)

The Lord had been with His people during the most difficult times of their life and He had been with them in every aspect of their development of a nation. He established them in a land that had been promised to Abraham generations before. Even in that process, God warned His people through Moses,

“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”  (Deuteronomy 8:11-14 NIV)

It seems that the Lord knows our hearts and our actions better than we do. How often do we find ourselves guilty of what we at one time would declare we would never do. We can see the downward spiral. In our need we seek God. In response to our cry to the Lord, He hears and provides. He brings us to a place of security and provision. We become satisfied. Our satisfaction turns into pride. Our pride creates as focus on self and we forget God.

How is this downward trend avoided? It is better to learn how to be faithful to the Lord when things are going well, than to face constant struggles, that force us to stay close to the Lord. The simple solution is to, “remember the Lord.” “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV)

This is accomplished by guarding our hearts. It is accomplished through spiritual disciplines of Bible reading, prayer and fellowship with God’s people. It is accomplished through the spiritual practice of tithing and generosity to those in need. When we tithe our income, it is a constant reminder that, what we are doing, we are doing to honor the Lord. We are doing it out of obedience to Him.

We need to remember the God who is there when we need Him the most, is the God who is there when we feel the most blessed and secure. Paul reminds us of the key in “plenty and in want.” All that we are, all that we do, we are to do, “through Christ who gives us the strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

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My book “The Longest Campaign” is available!

You can order a hard copy by sending me an email. Books are $15 including postage.

or

If you want an electronic version go to:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_16?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+longest+campaign&sprefix=the+Longest+camp%2Caps%2C395

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The+Longest+Campaign?_requestid=1011959&No=0&Nrpp=40

Checkout the promotional video at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpn36dSasjE