Deuteronomy 8:18 reveals that there is an action required on our part in order to be entrusted with greater wealth. It goes back to the “seek and you shall find” principle. You have to seek to find it. Great wealth doesn’t just fall from the sky and land in our laps as we sit and do nothing. Jesus said in the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25 that we have been entrusted with gifts from God and it is our responsibility to make use of them. We have the choice to use our time, gifts, and resources, or abuse and neglect them.
Imagine if just 10% of believers who are Disciples of Christ would not only use their gifts and talents, but maximize them and use them to their fullest potential, thereby making millions for the Kingdom of God. The impact upon the lives of billions of people who are not-yet-believers would be phenomenal. Preaching the gospel efficiently and effectively and “making disciples of all nations” requires capital. The Lord invites us each to be part of building his kingdom, but he is not constrained by our participation. The fact is, history records the story of many individuals who missed their opportunity, their invitation, and the hour of their visitation.
The Hebrew meaning of this word power in Deuteronomy 8:18 implies strength and might (either human strength, angelic might, the power of God, the might of animals or the strength of the soil). Today, no one would argue that the earth is governed by invisible laws and principles such as the law of gravity and the principles of thermodynamics.
Throughout history people lived in ignorance of these natural law. Yet, when these laws were revealed the course of history changed as people learned to harness the power of the wind, water, and soil. Comparably, the invisible economic laws and principles which the Lord created have widely gone under the radar. Jews are one of the only groups of people who have harnessed the power of these laws and principles for producing great wealth. Sadly most believers are ignorant of these financial laws.
The word of God records that He is no respecter of persons. His principles work for anyone who will apply them. You can harness the power of electricity and do great good or evil with that power whether or not you believe that God exists. The same goes for harnessing the power of wealth.
There are two kinds of promises of God. First, there are unconditional promises: the fulfillment is completely God’s responsibility independent of people or situations. The rainbow is a historic reminder of the promise God made to Noah that He would never sent another flood or destroy the entire earth. Second, there are conditional promises: the fulfillment is based on our cooperation. These are often written as “if-then” statements. If we fulfill our responsibility then the Lord will fulfill His responsibility.
Deuteronomy 8:18 states that our part is to “remember the Lord your God,” while God’s role is identified as stated, “for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth…” What does it mean to remember the Lord? Well the Hebrew word for Remember is zakar, and it essentially means “to remember.” There is no hidden meaning; however, there are some hidden suggestions for how to remember, namely, “to mention, to record, to make a memorial.” Perhaps our responsibility would become clearer if we considered the antithesis.
The church is strong to address sins of commission (thou shalt not’s) but interestingly enough, the sins of omission (thou shalt’s) are swept under the rug. “Whoever knows to do what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.” (James 4:17 NET) Forgetting, or not remembering is perhaps the most dangerous sin that we as believers face. We are in danger of being disinherited when we forget what God has done for us or what he plans do for us. Jeremiah 29:11 clearly states that the Lord plans to prosper us, not to harm us, and plans to give us a future filled with hope.
Consider the Israelites’selective memory. They were in the habit of forgetting how hard slavery was in Egypt and constantly grumbled, murmured, and complained, declaring they wanted to go back to Egypt. Not once, not twice, but three times in the book of Numbers the Lord, who is tremendously patient, became so furious with Israel that he was going to destroy the whole lot of them. Three times Moses interceded for them, and the Lord relented. However, the alternative plan was still punishment. They were to wander in the desert for 40 years so that none of the adults would live to enter the Promise Land.
Magical forest in Rostuse, Macedonia – Photo credit: MLazarevski via photopin cc
