“Eschew The Boast Of Self-effort!”

“”Eschew The Boast Of Self-effort!”(Dt.8:11-18).
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end, it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
It is possible for the person who has affluence to think less of divine providence. Moses was quite aware that the rise of capitalism can be the death of reliance on God. This is not to say capitalism is the end of religion. On the contrary, capitalism is a paradigm shift from dependence on divine providence to dependence on self and wealth.
Divine providence does not mean folding your hands, waiting for God to rain down Manna and quail as in the days of the exodus.
There is no food for a lazy man. Divine providence is trusting God to bless the works of your hands because if the LORD does not build the house, the builders labour is in vain.
A sin that is common but quite unnoticeable is the pride of self-effort. At harvest time, many people boast about the effort they put in in cultivating and tending their crops. They fail to appreciate the One who provided the necessary conditions for growth and fruitful yield.
“All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above.” It is not by might, it is not by power, but by the Spirit of God that we are what we are until we become what the LORD wants us to become.
My friend, better days are coming. When they come, “be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands…But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant…”
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit, prompt us daily to remember the LORD who is the source of our wellbeing. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
10/03/2025.