What Really Matters

From: Greg Laurie Ministries

Deuteronomy 6:11–12 "When you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage."

In his book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." We talk about the problem of pain, but let’s talk about the problem of prosperity. Prosperity brings responsibility, because we are not owners; we are stewards. Everything (Talent and Treasure) God gives to us is a gift, and we will be held responsible for what we do with the gifts that are at our disposal. 

When life gets really hard and adversity hits, we pray—and so we should. But sometimes when life is going reasonably well, we sometimes forget about the priority of prayer. God gave this warning to Israel before they entered the Promised Land and began enjoying all its blessings: "When you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage." 

Adversity levels us and keeps us humble, while prosperity tends to make us feel self-sufficient. We often put God in the background when we’re in good health or have ample resources. But when an economy goes south or the doctor has bad news, we turn to God, because we are reminded of what really matters.