Dangers of Prosperity
WORD TO LIVE BY: Do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs (Deuteronomy 15:7b-8).
Session Goals:
*To understand that it is God who gives the ability to produce wealth.
*To acknowledge the biblical warning against forgetting that God is the source
of all true prosperity and blessings.
*To examine the dangers of wealth in the Christian’s life.
*To base life on spiritual rather than material values.
*To understand that it is God who gives the ability to produce wealth.
*To acknowledge the biblical warning against forgetting that God is the source
of all true prosperity and blessings.
*To examine the dangers of wealth in the Christian’s life.
*To base life on spiritual rather than material values.
Moses knew what he was talking about when he feared that once his people were in possession of the Promised Land, they would say, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me” (Deuteronomy 8:17). The Israelites had a tendency to abuse God’s blessings because of their own self-centeredness.
This applies to several areas of our lives: (1) Sick people look to God for healing and then forget Him when they are well. (2) People may pray for financial success in their business ventures and then believe it was their own wisdom that brought good fortune when it comes. (3) Churches ask God to give them growth, and then they decide it was their programs that produced the increase.
Like the Israelites of Moses’ day, we are called to “remember” and “not forget” what the Lord has done.
This applies to several areas of our lives: (1) Sick people look to God for healing and then forget Him when they are well. (2) People may pray for financial success in their business ventures and then believe it was their own wisdom that brought good fortune when it comes. (3) Churches ask God to give them growth, and then they decide it was their programs that produced the increase.
Like the Israelites of Moses’ day, we are called to “remember” and “not forget” what the Lord has done.
OUR LESSON TODAY WILL FOCUS ON THE IDEA OF WEALTH AND VALUES. In today’s passage, Moses paints a vivid word picture of what life can be like in the Promised Land. Then, he warns the people not to congratulate themselves for their good fortune.
(2)
THE BOUNTY OF THE LAND (DEUTERONOMY 8:6-10)
*How do we “revere” the Lord (v. 6)? By keeping the commandments, the people would show their respect for God
*How does verse 7 remind the people that their blessings are not of their own making? God was bring them into a good land. It already had streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills.
*How is this description (vv. 7-9) in sharp contrast to the life the people have known during their years of wilderness wanderings? In contrast to the scarcity of the wilderness, the land produced a variety of crops: wheat and barley for bread; vines or vineyards for wine; various fruits; honey from bees; and olives for oil, which was used in cooking, lamps, and medicines.
*The “Canaan lands” promised to believers today are abundant life now [John 10:10]; and eternal life later [John 6:40]. How should this encourage faithfulness?
*How do we “revere” the Lord (v. 6)? By keeping the commandments, the people would show their respect for God
*How does verse 7 remind the people that their blessings are not of their own making? God was bring them into a good land. It already had streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills.
*How is this description (vv. 7-9) in sharp contrast to the life the people have known during their years of wilderness wanderings? In contrast to the scarcity of the wilderness, the land produced a variety of crops: wheat and barley for bread; vines or vineyards for wine; various fruits; honey from bees; and olives for oil, which was used in cooking, lamps, and medicines.
*The “Canaan lands” promised to believers today are abundant life now [John 10:10]; and eternal life later [John 6:40]. How should this encourage faithfulness?
THE WAY TO WEALTH (DEUTERONOMY 8:11-14)
*Why would the people need the warning in verse 11? Once the Israelites had entered the land and had become used to its bounty, they would be tempted to view their success as the fruit of their own labor. Moses cautioned them to praise the Lord your God. They were to remember who had given them the land and to remain grateful. They were not to forget God. By failing to observe God’s law, the people would be forgetting God, the One who had given them the land.
*What blessings did God want to bestow on the people (vv. 12-13)? Abundance of the land. Fine houses, wealth, increase in herds and flocks and silver and gold. They would receive abundance in the land, all they had and would gain was due to the gracious leading of God. Their relationship with God was important, not physical possessions.
*Why would abundance make the people arrogant(v. 14)? Tempt them to forget God (v. 14)?
*Why would the people need the warning in verse 11? Once the Israelites had entered the land and had become used to its bounty, they would be tempted to view their success as the fruit of their own labor. Moses cautioned them to praise the Lord your God. They were to remember who had given them the land and to remain grateful. They were not to forget God. By failing to observe God’s law, the people would be forgetting God, the One who had given them the land.
*What blessings did God want to bestow on the people (vv. 12-13)? Abundance of the land. Fine houses, wealth, increase in herds and flocks and silver and gold. They would receive abundance in the land, all they had and would gain was due to the gracious leading of God. Their relationship with God was important, not physical possessions.
*Why would abundance make the people arrogant(v. 14)? Tempt them to forget God (v. 14)?
PROSPERITY AND PRIDE (DEUTERONOMY 8:15-18)
*Eating manna in the desert “humbled and tested” the people (v. 16). They could not produce food themselves but had to depend on God’s provision. The provision of manna was long-term: it began shortly after the people left Egypt [Exodus 16] and continued until food became available in the Promised Land [Joshua 5:12].
*Why would the Israelites be tempted to take personal credit for God’s blessings (v. 17)? (Even though they worked hard, they may forget that God
(3)
*Eating manna in the desert “humbled and tested” the people (v. 16). They could not produce food themselves but had to depend on God’s provision. The provision of manna was long-term: it began shortly after the people left Egypt [Exodus 16] and continued until food became available in the Promised Land [Joshua 5:12].
*Why would the Israelites be tempted to take personal credit for God’s blessings (v. 17)? (Even though they worked hard, they may forget that God
(3)
provided the strength as well as everything they will need to produce wealth.)
*According to verse 18, what confirms God’s covenant? (God’s provision.)
*According to verse 18, what confirms God’s covenant? (God’s provision.)
WARNING AGAINST FORGETFULNESS (Deuteronomy 8:19-20)
*Moses thinks the people might “forsake God for other gods” because they are tied so closely to the land, they may be tempted to worship the fertility gods of their neighbors.
*Why does Moses find it necessary to again remind the people of what will happen if they “forsake God for other gods’? Israel was constantly tempted to worship the gods of other nations. Their history, as recorded in Judges, Samuel, and Kings, is one of continual backsliding. They would worship other gods and, in response, the Lord would give them into the hands of their enemies. When they cried out for deliverance, God would send a deliverer/savior to rescue them. Yet, as soon as they felt secure again, they would turn once again to the worship of other gods. While God will punish sin, He would rather bless His faithful people. If they sin and fall under His wrath, God will still restore and bless those who repent. With God, there is always hope. Why do we need to be reminded?
*Moses thinks the people might “forsake God for other gods” because they are tied so closely to the land, they may be tempted to worship the fertility gods of their neighbors.
*Why does Moses find it necessary to again remind the people of what will happen if they “forsake God for other gods’? Israel was constantly tempted to worship the gods of other nations. Their history, as recorded in Judges, Samuel, and Kings, is one of continual backsliding. They would worship other gods and, in response, the Lord would give them into the hands of their enemies. When they cried out for deliverance, God would send a deliverer/savior to rescue them. Yet, as soon as they felt secure again, they would turn once again to the worship of other gods. While God will punish sin, He would rather bless His faithful people. If they sin and fall under His wrath, God will still restore and bless those who repent. With God, there is always hope. Why do we need to be reminded?
*If we could condense verses 7-19 into a brief prescription for enjoying God’s blessings, it might sound like this: OBEY AND HONOR GOD; BLESSINGS WILL FOLLOW.
CLOSING THOUGHT:
“Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our rights into God’s hand; and then when we have given all to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about.” Hudson Taylor
“Let us give up our work, our plans, ourselves, our lives, our loved ones, our influence, our rights into God’s hand; and then when we have given all to Him, there will be nothing left for us to be troubled about.” Hudson Taylor
Archives
Past Sermons
Subscribe to Grace Weekly
Donate
Slideshow
