Is Our Affluence Stealing Our Faith?

During my daily time each morning in scripture and prayer, I am currently reading in Deuteronomy from the “Today’s Light Bible.” Recently, the words of Deuteronomy 8 caused me to pause . . . again. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses teaches the people of Israel about the material blessings which they would receive from God as they enter the promised land. Consider the words of Deuteronomy 8:7-10. “7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.” In many ways I find it natural to compare the abundant blessings the Lord gave Israel, blessings of land, minerals, food, and homes, with the blessings Americans have received. God has truly blessed the people who live in America.

However, Moses then warns God’s people against letting these blessings cause them to forget the Lord, who is the Giver of these gifts. 11 "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God . . . 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' 18 You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.” (Deuteronomy 8:11-14 a, 17-19) The warnings of Moses bring sadness to my heart. While Israel and America are different countries, from different time periods, in my view Americans, often and in many ways, have chosen our riches and our pleasures over the Lord. Americans have chosen their riches and pleasures over faith, over obedience, and over worship.

What is worse, this drifting away from the Lord seems to be happening in the lives of God’s people as well. Just as the Israelites who were saved in the Exodus turned their backs on their Lord, Christians who know that God blesses and saves them in this world, and in eternity, have become less fervent in living their faith.

Perhaps you have seen recent reports about a study of worship attendance. Practicing Christian faith was declining before COVID-19, and is now even worse after the pandemic. The study, “’Faith After the Pandemic: How COVID-19 Changed American Religion,’ . . . which included Jews and Mormons, 13% of Americans attended in-person worship services during the summer of 2020, according to the survey. That number increased to 27% in the spring of 2022, but remains lower than the pre-pandemic attendance rate. Other traditional faith values are also declining.” (Fox News, January 9, 2023) In a recent conversation I had, the discussion was about “Does our belief in Jesus make a difference in the way we live . . . or not?”

Perhaps Solomon sums up this warning best in Proverbs 30:8-9. “8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” What good is it to receive a gift, yet to forget the one who gave the gift? God warned Israel through Moses, but the people of Israel forgot that their blessings were from the Lord, and they forgot His warnings. It is sad to see us make the same mistake.

Jesus teaches that there is one thing which is truly most valuable - the kingdom of God. “44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46) Again, this gift of heaven is a gift from God, given through His Son, Jesus. Jesus paid the price, with His bloody cross and the empty tomb. so that we might receive the kingdom of heaven. We receive the gift He paid for, as we trust Him over trusting the fading and perishing wealth of this world. The gift of our Lord, of His Son, of the Spirit, and of His kingdom, is worth more than all the material abundance which we enjoy in our time.

I pray for myself. I pray for my family. I pray for the church and for my country, that the scales may fall from our eyes and that we may see what is truly valuable, the love of God in Jesus. Only in Jesus are there riches in heaven and in this life, riches from God which do not perish. We have so much reason to give thanks. Part of a thankful heart is showing our faith in our Lord and our Savior in the way we live!

So, is the abundance of your material blessings interfering with your thankful heart and a faithful life?