ICS Daily Devotions
A Jealous God
In accordance with Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, self-actualization is the highest achievement that everyone works toward in life (A.H Maslow, “A theory of Human Motivation”, Psychological Review 1943). Therefore, it is very natural that everyone will work towards that goal of being the best that they can be but it is how they get there that matters. Do we get to the highest achievement in life with or without God? The outcome can be very different at the end of the pursuit of success.
Deuteronomy 8:12-13,17-18(NKJV) 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; ….. 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, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
It is a holistic prosperity which includes walking with Him, enjoying the people that He has placed in our lives, being physically well when God gives us richly all things to enjoy. Of course, monetary provisions through a good job or business ideas are also part of the riches that He has provided for us to enjoy.
God does not want us to be in lack but that all of us will have enough. We should remember those who are in need and be willing to share with them. Not all of us will be multi-millionaires although some of us will be given that responsibility. Therefore, those who are given more will be required to do more and those who have been adequately supplied should also be a blessing to others.
It is consistent in the Scripture that God does not want us to be proud when we are abundantly supplied, rich or when we have no lack.
1 Timothy 6:17(NKJV) Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Pride will cause us to be full of ourselves, think that we are self-made and allow such thoughts to draw us away from God. We begin to trust in the riches that we have and think that we have no need for God since we have no lack. It is when we begin to think in this way then we will pursue riches, cultivate the greed in our lives and grow to love money that will cause us to be pierced with many sorrows.
It is also consistent with how Jesus dealt with the rich young ruler whose idol was his riches and he trusted in the abundance of his wealth. The above verse of 1 Timothy 6:17 reiterates that we should never trust in uncertain riches, but we should have our trust in God. God wants us to trust Him wholeheartedly especially in the area of finances because it has the tendency to become an idol or a god in our lives.
God is not against the riches that we have been provided with by Him but He is against money becoming an idol in our lives. He is a jealous God who want us to love Him wholeheartedly.
Sermon Series: Balancing Godliness and Riches
