The temptation to forget God is not when things are going badly, it’s when things are going well. God warned the Israelites, “…be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Deuteronomy 6.12). God knew they would experience wealth and prosperity beyond what they could imagine. He also knew it would be a prime opportunity for them to forget him.
Wealth is not always a friend to faith. We can easily look at our jobs, our houses, cars, recreational toys, vacations, and retirement accounts and think, “God, I did this without you!” If that’s what we’re thinking, we’ve already begun to drift. We’re already in dangerous territory. God’s warning to Israel is also a warning to us, no matter how wealthy or affluent we believe we are.
Our first step back, away from this attitude of pride and self-reliance, is confession. If you’ve started to notice this attitude developing, confess your sin to God. Then thank him for his goodness and all the things he’s so graciously given you. Begin the habit of thanking him every day for three specific things.
