Temptations of a Prosperous condition!

It is an absolute necessity to warn people against the abuse of plenty! The purpose for this warning is to consider the importance of gratitude and humility for a spiritually healthy way of life. Self-conceit, self-complacency, and self-confidence builds within him and he is capable of forgetting God because he thinks he can do it all by himself in his prosperous condition. Omniscient God warns His children very often so that we do not forget Him or His commandments. Deut: 8.

“All the commandments which I commanded thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.” Deut 8:1. Moses rehearses some of the struggles Israel had experienced in the preceding 40 years and encourages them to live with humility and gratitude of heart towards God when they begin to enjoy the fruit of the land and God’s blessings in the land.

When men possess large estates, or are engaged in profitable business, they find the temptation to pride, forgetfulness of God, and carnal-mindedness, very strong; and they are anxious and troubled about many things. In this the believing poor have the advantage; they more easily perceive their supplies coming from the Lord in answer to the prayer of faith; and, strange as it may seem, they find less difficulty in simply trusting him for daily bread. Deut 8:10-20; Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Apathy/sloth is one of the dangerous deadliest sins, and it is an attitude of spiritual emptiness that comes by taking God and His blessings for granted and forgetting the Benefactor. Would one suppose that Israelites after their slavery at the brick-kilns should need the thorns of the wilderness to humble them? But such is the nature of man and this applies very much to all of us. Although the time in the desert is not a very pleasant experience, several of the prophets in the future years point back as the highest of Israel’s spiritual life. We can confidently say referring to Scriptures that in the desert more than anywhere else that Israel cried out to God, and they had a very close relationship with the Lord. What is our response and relationship with God when we face desert experiences?

None of us live a single week without giving proofs of our weakness, folly, and depravity. To broken-hearted souls alone the Savior is precious indeed. Nothing can render the most suitable outward and inward trials effectual, but the power of the Spirit of God. See here how God's giving and our getting are reconciled, and apply it to spiritual wealth. Moses repeats the warning often given of the fatal consequences of forsaking God.

Would we describe ourselves as grateful, generally grateful, occasionally grateful, or frustrated or disappointed? Gratitude can be spontaneous flowing from personal contentment, or it can be intentional; that is we do not feel like thanking, but we thank God anyway. Can we describe the state of our heart?

“Then thine heart is lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” Deut: 8:14. God arms us against the temptations of a prosperous condition:
1. Be careful of being very prideful; because when the estate rises the mind of man is apt to rise with it in self-conceit, self-complacency, and self-confidence.
2. When people grow rich they are tempted to think religion is a needless thing, think it is a thing below them, it is too hard for them, and they are happy to go on life without it. Their money given dignity, forbids them to stoop, and the liberty forbids them to serve.

Moses finds it necessary to caution Israelites against the abuse of plenty when every thing was plenty in Canaan. How does that apply to us today and to our spiritual life and to our heart?

Website References:
1. Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise ...
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Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. But if the ... Moses arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition. When men ...

2. Deuteronomy 8:12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when ...
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Moses arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition. When men possess large estates, or are engaged in profitable business, they find the ...

3. Deuteronomy 8 - Matthew Henry's Commentary - Bible Commentary
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Moses arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition. When men possess large estates, or are engaged in profitable business, they find the ...

4.Deuteronomy 8:1-20
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Moses arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition. ... God's Mouth: Theological Wordplay in Deuteronomy 8," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1985. ...

5.Book of Job
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The principal figure of the book is Job, a pious Jew afflicted with disease and stripped of ... While living in the midst of great prosperity, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a ..... In succession Job bears six great temptations with heroic patience, and ..... and by Amelineau in "Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archeology", ...

6. Apple - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This may also have influenced the apple becoming interpreted as the biblical " forbidden fruit". .... To control a specific pest, organic growers might encourage the prosperity of its natural ... Among the most serious disease problems are fireblight, a bacterial disease; and ..... Apples: The Story of the Fruit of Temptation. ...

7.Deuteronomy 8:19 And it shall be, if thou shalt forget the LORD
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He arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition, and charges them .... This word, Thy God,' is the sweetest word in the Bible, it implies the best ...

8.Spiritual Warfare - Including tearing down strongholds!
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Prosperity Gospel Is it Biblical to be blessed? ... Biblical faith & healing · God's authority in the family · Steps to inner healing · Dissociative Identity Disorder .... Temptation is when we are enticed or encouraged to sin in one way or another. ...

9.DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 8
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16 Aug 2011 – Search keywords in the Bible: [Advanced] .... Moses arms them against the temptations of a prosperous condition. When men possess large ...


Book References:
1.Payer To Move Your Mountains, “Powerful Prayers for The Spirit-Filled Life.” (Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, 2000)

2. Practical Psychology for Pastors, William R. Miller, Kathleen A. Jackson (The University of Mexico), second Edition, Prentice – Hall Inc, 1995,1985, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

3. Jay E.Adams, ‘The Christian Counselor’s Manual, ‘The Practice of Nouthetic Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973)

4. John G. Kruis, ‘Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling; (Grand rapids: Baker Books, Third edition, p. 169-170)

5. David G. Benner & Peter C. Hill, ‘Baker Encyclopaedia of Psychology & Counseling’ Second Edition, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1985, 1999)

6. Dr. Larry Crabb, “Effective Biblical Counseling” How Caring Christians can Become Capable Counselors, (Hammersmith: Marshall Pickering, 1985), p. 100-104).

7.The Matthew Henry Study Bible, ‘King James version’ The best of Matthew Henry’s Notes in a Handy One Volume Reference Bible, World Bible Publishers, Inc; 1994, Iowa Falls, U.S.A.

8. David Seeking A Heart Like His, ‘Beth Moore’ Life Way Christian resources, Nashville, Tennessee, 2010, pgs: 206-210.

9. Jay E. Adams, ‘Critical Stages of Biblical Counseling’ Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started, (New Jersey: Zondervan, 2002)

10. Jay E. Adams, ‘How to Help People Change’ The Four-step Biblical Process, (Grand rapids: Zondervan, 1986)

11. John F. MacArthur, JR. Wayne A. Mack & The Master’s College Faculty, ‘Introduction To Biblical Counseling’, “A Basic Guide To The Principles And Practice Of Counseling”(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,1994)

12. Jay E. Adams, ‘Lectures on Counseling’ (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1978, p.192-203)

13. The Holy Bible, New King James version, Women of Destiny Bible, “Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures” A Spirit Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, Copyright 1982.

14. Deuteronomy becoming Holy People, Stephen D. Eyre, p:32-26; IVP connect, An imprint of Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1998, 2004.