11/02/2007
Hosea 13:4 - 6 (NASB)
4
Yet I have
been the LORD your God
Since the
land of Egypt;
And you
were not to know any god except Me,
For
there is no savior besides Me.
5 I
cared for you in the wilderness,
In the
land of drought.
6 As they
had their pasture, they became
satisfied,
And
being satisfied, their heart became proud;
Therefore
they forgot Me.
God declares through Hosea that He brought Israel from Egypt and in the desert He provided for them. But when they were no longer in want, their hearts quickly turned to other things. Not only did they ignore God, they turned to the gods of the pagan nations around them.
Why is it that the more affluent we become, the more likely we are to invent other gods? In war, it is said that “there are no atheists in foxholes.” When we find ourselves in deepest despair, we naturally call out to our maker. But when we are surrounded by plenty, we forget the One who has blessed us. When we have all we need and more, we are quick to think that we have accomplished this for ourselves and forget that God has chosen to bless us to this measure.
Do you thank God just as much in your abundance as you do in your scarcity? Do you seek His wisdom and mercy as much in your health as in your weakness? Do you seek his protection as much in your security as you do in your vulnerability?
There are plenty of false gods to worship today, but let me suggest that if you find the pursuit of wealth more important than your time with God, then you have set up your own idol. If your career supersedes your prayer life, then you are worshiping at the altar of a false god. If you allow anything at all to come in the way of your relationship with God, then you are just as guilty as Israel when they worshiped Baal.
Take the time to examine your life and make sure that you are worshiping and serving the True God who has abundantly blessed you.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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