DCLM Higher Everyday 6 November 2022 — Fortunes and forgetfulness
DCLM Higher Everyday 6 November 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Fortunes and forgetfulness
TOPIC: FORTUNES AND FORGETFULNESS
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 8:11-19
12Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
15Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
16Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
17And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
19And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
MEMORY VERSE: “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” (DEUTERONOMY 8:18).
MESSAGE:
Wealth or riches, also referred to as fortunes, has innate powers that can influence the owner(s), inspiring arrogance, impudence, and/or superiority complex. People who have been blessed with fortunes tend to despise the less privileged or less fortunate persons.
This tendency can also manifest in the lives of God’s people who do not employ the means of grace, as provided in the Scriptures. Thus, fortunes can cause people to forget God, who alone enables us to create wealth, and live as though there were no eternity – to the peril of their souls! So, Dwight L. Moody asserts: “We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God.”
Beloved, if God has blessed your parents with wealth, do not stride around as a big shot looking down upon indigent students in your school. Be grateful to God for the provision and worship Him with your family’s fortunes. When you grow up and go into your own career, it will be easy for you to consecrate your all to God.
QUOTE: Be grateful to God for the provision.
CHALLENGE: Self-assessment should precede our prayer for prosperity.
PRAYER: Father, bless me with humility before my fortunes arrive.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
