JUN 4

Deuteronomy 8:11-14
Memorise Psalm 103:1-5
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”

Do you think it is easier to be a Christian in times of prosperity, or in times of adversity? Most may think: in times of prosperity, of course! How difficult can it be to love and obey God when things in life are going well?

You may ask, “How difficult can it be?” Well, God knows all too well how the problem of complacency can so easily creep in, especially in times of prosperity. This is why, in His great wisdom, He warned Israel of this very danger. Deuteronomy 8 is part of a series of messages preached by Moses to the children of Israel just before they entered into the Promised Land. It was a very exciting time for the people of Israel indeed, for they were about to conquer the land which God had promised their forefathers generations ago, a land that God had often described as being most glorious and beautiful. But in the midst of their excitement and eager anticipation, God also had a stern warning for them – “Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God”. Specifically, the warning was for the future, when they would live in comfortable houses, and enriched with livestock and wealth. It was precisely in such a time of prosperity and abundance that they would be prone to forget God. They would look at the victories they had won over the inhabitants of the land, at the territories they had conquered, at the wealth they had accumulated, at the cattle and flocks they had multiplied, and their hearts would be lifted up, and they would forget the LORD their God. Again, we see that pride is the root cause of many sins – they took pride in their accomplishments, and so forgot the Lord.

Dear teen, have you fallen prey to this subtle sin of complacency? Perhaps things are going well in your life right now. Perhaps you are doing well in school, scoring As in all your subjects and winning medals in your CCA. Perhaps you have many friends and you are enjoying the popularity. Perhaps you may even be enjoying victory in your spiritual life. Perhaps you have recently overcome a certain sin. Beware, dear teen, for it is precisely in such times of prosperity that you may become most susceptible to the sin of complacency. Have you become prideful in your achievements, and have you taken God and all His blessings for granted?

Thought: Prosperity must give rise to praise!

Prayer: Lord, teach me to “in every thing give thanks”, and forgive me for the times when I have failed to acknowledge Thy good hand in my life.