How can we ensure gratitude to God when "your herds and flocks multiply"? Setting the Scene Deuteronomy 8:13–14 sets the context: “and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God…”. The Lord anticipates blessings and warns of pride. Gratitude is His prescribed antidote. Prosperity’s Peril • Increase is not sin, but it is a test. • The heart drifts toward self-sufficiency when barns are full (cf. Hosea 13:6). • Forgetting God invites discipline (Deuteronomy 8:19). Practices that Nurture Gratitude • Speak His deeds aloud. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds” (Psalm 103:2). • Record new mercies. Keep a running list of provisions, large and small. • Return to your Red Sea stories—times He rescued you when resources were lean (Deuteronomy 8:14; Psalm 77:11). Heart Checks to Guard Against Pride • Ask: Who multiplied the herds? “You may say in your heart, ‘My power…’ but remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the power to gain wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). • See every animal, every dollar, as borrowed from Him (Psalm 24:1). • Evaluate motives: Are the increases fueling kingdom work or merely comfort? Remember the Source • “All things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You” (1 Chronicles 29:14). • “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). Meditating on these truths shifts focus from the gift to the Giver. Express Gratitude Tangibly • First-fruits giving: “Honor the LORD with your wealth…then your barns will be filled” (Proverbs 3:9-10). • Regular worship: bring verbal thanks and material offerings (Psalm 50:14). • Sabbath pauses: step away from production to delight in the Provider (Exodus 20:8-11). Live Open-Handedly • Bless others: “Instruct the rich…to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-18). • Hospitality: open the gate of the pasture and the door of the house (Hebrews 13:16). • Relief giving: herds multiplied so the hungry eat (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). Steward Well for His Glory • Manage, do not hoard (Luke 12:15). • Plan for legacy that advances the gospel (Proverbs 13:22). • Pray over every business decision, remembering the Lord’s ownership (Psalm 37:5). Closing Encouragement Prosperity does not have to cool love for God. Let every sound of a growing flock, every addition to the ledger, trigger praise. Choose daily remembrance, tangible generosity, and humble stewardship—habits that keep gratitude vibrant when “your herds and flocks multiply.” |
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