Beyond the Weekend

August 21 | Warning

August 21, 2017

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 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. 

Read the entire passage: Deuteronomy 8:1–20

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The Israelites are upgrading from the scarce desert to the Promised Land filled with material abundance (Deuteronomy 8:7-9a). However, they face a profound danger. They are about to find out that there is something about material abundance that can lead to forgetting God.

It is possible—and counter-intuitive—that someone can arrive at a greater level of financial freedom because of spiritual discipline and forget God. A person can become disciplined to escape materialism, curb spending, find their identity in Christ, work hard, give faithfully and discover that over time they are on a very solid financial footing. Yet, the spiritual motivation and discipline that got them here can set one to forget God.

It does not happen to everyone, but the current is against you. To float downstream, you don’t have to do anything. Even if all you want to do is stay in place, you have to paddle. However, you will have to paddle even harder if you choose to fight the current of forgetting God.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

In your Chair Time today, examine how your faith and joy might depend on a positive swing in the stock market, purchasing the next big thing, one-upping your neighbor or having a certain amount of savings. Ask God to help you to remember him, obey his commands and cultivate joy in him in all circumstances.

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