The following story comes from Dana Stephens in the “Kids of the Kingdom” section of Christianity Today:
“During a stay with grandparents, my five-year-old niece Michaela pulled corn on a neighbor’s farm for the first time. Her grandparents used the experience as a teaching tool, explaining to Michaela that the corn was God’s blessing to them. At first, the work was great fun, but after only a few minutes Michaela looked at her grandmother and commented, ‘You know you can buy this in the grocery store, don’t you?'”
We smile at children who see food in the store and don’t fully appreciate where it comes from. And yet, I wonder if we as adults are any different. God issued this warning to the people of Israel:
“When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God… lest — when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt…– then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” (Deut. 8:10-14,17-18)
God knew that the time would come when the Israelites would say, “Everything I enjoy doesn’t come from God — I earned it! I planted the fields, I raised the livestock.” It was so easy for them to forget where it all came from. And it is so easy for us to do the same. It is easy to think that my home, my car, my clothes, my food, everything I own is “mine” because I paid for them. I brought home a paycheck. I used that money to purchase these things.
Let us all take heed to this reminder so that we don’t forget where it all comes from:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17)
Alan Smith
