How can we ensure our prosperity doesn't lead us away from God's commandments? Living in Houses You Did Not Build “ …houses full of every good thing with which you did not fill them, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—when you eat and are satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 6:11) Why Prosperity Can Be Perilous • Comfort dulls holy dependence (Deuteronomy 6:12). • Abundance invites misplaced confidence (Deuteronomy 8:17). • Treasure can hijack the heart (Matthew 6:19-21). Heart-Level Safeguards • Remember the Source – “You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:18) – Recite His works; rehearse His grace daily. • Cultivate Gratitude – “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17) – Keep thanksgiving lists; speak praise before counting possessions. • Practice Generosity – “Honor the LORD with your wealth…then your barns will be filled.” (Proverbs 3:9-10) – Giving loosens prosperity’s grip and redirects it to kingdom purposes (1 Timothy 6:17-19). • Maintain Regular Worship Rhythms – Weekly gathering, family altar time, personal study—each re-centers affections on the Giver rather than the gifts. – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) • Embrace Accountability – Transparent friendships and church community expose creeping idolatry (Hebrews 3:13). Everyday Practices That Anchor Obedience • Tithe first, spend second. • Budget with prayer, not merely with math. • Schedule routine acts of service to the poor (Proverbs 19:17). • Choose periodic fasting to remind the soul that life is more than bread (Matthew 4:4). • Downsize or defer upgrades when they threaten spiritual margin. God’s Promise for the Obedient Prosperous • “I will open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing until it overflows.” (Malachi 3:10) • “It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” (Proverbs 10:22) Obedience secures blessing without the sorrow of spiritual erosion. Lasting Perspective Prosperity is a platform to showcase God’s generosity, not a pedestal to elevate self. Houses filled with every good thing become houses filled with His glory when gratitude, generosity, and obedience keep the doors open to the Lord who gave them. |
    |