Faithfulness in Times of Plenty

Last month we made an unexpected announcement: due to very generous financial giving, we were able to pay off the remainder of our building debt! This has eliminated several more years of making a mortgage payment, allowed us to tithe to local and international ministries, and has created for us an increased budget to explore what it looks like for us to continue to be “worshipers in community engaged in ministry” as we move forward. We applaud this, celebrate this, and are in awe of the capacity of the Lord to blow our minds whenever and however he chooses. These are all appropriate responses. And, yet, there is one more response that we also need to remember, one that we see as God’s people are about to enter into the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (emphases my own):
“And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you – with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant – and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

What is the response we see here in light of coming into fullness and plenty? Caution. The people of God, who had been rescued from slavery and formed as a people, due solely to God’s grace and power, were about to take possession of a land where everything was already set up for them. They had to construct no cities, build no houses, dig no cisterns, and plant no vineyards. In light of this, the word of the Lord to them is: “In the middle of your plenty, don’t forget me! As you enjoy this jaw-dropping gift I am giving you, remember that I am your greatest treasure. Don’t get so caught up in the incredible gift that you forget the incredible Giver of the gift.” As we enter into a season of plenty together as a church family, may we remember these ancient words of God to his people, and apply them to our own situation. As we, like ancient Israel, move into new territory prepared beforehand for us by the Lord, let us take care lest we forget the Lord.

Ben

monthly resources
In light of our apologetics SS class this summer, here’s a recent release on explaining/defending Christianity that’s worth reading:

• Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion