Don't let Prosperity Make you Lose your Memory

The Old Testament account of the Israelites exodus from Egypt is fascinating. A slave people set free from bondage only to wander in a desert for 40 years. Can you image reading their Facebook fitbit posting?!

"I walked 1,000,000 feet today and got the Crossed the Sinai Badge with FitBit!"

While the Bible says their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell (Deuteronomy 8:4) they did experience dire thirst and devastating hunger. They grumbled. They complained. They even set up idols (think of sports, gadgets, hobbies, etc) and worshipped them instead of the LORD.

So here's a people - easily over 1 million of them - walking to "God only knows where" (no, literally) following a God, of whom they know not His name. Oh that they had a GPS with Google maps installed! (You've probably heard it before: But why did the Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years? Because Moses refused to ask for directions!)

Humor aside, the people are warned prior to entering the Promised Land of Canaan. God says to them in Deuteronomy 8:11:

"Be careful that you do not forget 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."

Why would the Israelites ever forget the LORD?! How could they every forget Him after all he had done for them - He delivered them from abusive slavery in the land of Egypt, sustained them over 40 years, and lead them to a new land - a land flowing with milk and honey! I'm thinking maybe "amber waves of grain" and "purple mountain majesties," but that's just my paraphrase on it! Again in Deuteronomy 8, God says:

"Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Let's take a closer look at this warning, this cautionary advice. In essence, the people were entering into foreign circumstances, unknown to a wandering former slave who up until this point, had been dependent solely upon their God. The prosperity they were to experience would be like nothing they had ever known. It included:

• Abundant Food and Drink
• Stable Homes
• Stationary Communities
• Successful Investments
• Accumulation of Possessions 
• Profitable Business Dealings

The danger of this prosperity was simple: Forgetting the LORD. Not denying Him. Not cursing Him. Just forgetting Him. Failing to involve Him in their daily lives. This was God's concern for His people. In the New Testament, Jesus tells a parable of seed being planted in four types of soils. The seed that fell among the thorns grew up but was choked out by all the worldly distractions. 

We face these same temptations today. And God still desires that we "seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us" (Acts 17:26). Yet, we become consumed, not by bad things many times, but just by "things." We have all we want, lacking nothing, and so, feel no need to reach out to God. 

Here are 3 easy ways to keep the LORD, our God, a priority in our lives and not forget Him.

1. Read about Him - Read or listen to the Bible to learn His mind, will, and words. 
2. Talk to Him - Prayer is simply talking to Him just like you talk to a friend. 
3. Worship Him - Find a church and frequent it at least once a week (Hopefully more)