COMFORT THAT LEADS TO COMPROMISE
"When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey His commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt."
For years, I always thought difficult times were the greatest threat to my faith. While the problematic times can shipwreck faith, I’ve found that, more often, the good seasons cause us to drift from God. The seasons of comfort lead us to compromise our faith by slowly drifting away. I’ve found that the difficult times are when my faith grows, and the times of comfort are when my faith can most decrease.
Charles Spurgeon says, Some birds sing best in cages. Likewise, some of God’s people shine brightest in the dark. Many an heir of heaven never prays so well as when he is driven by necessity to pray. Some will sing aloud upon their beds of sickness who hardly ever sang when they were well. Some will sing God’s high praises in the fire who did not praise Him as they should have before the trial came. In the furnace of affliction, the saints are often seen at their best.
I remember visiting a village in Africa years ago where I met a woman with joy and passion that far succeeded her circumstances. I asked her how she had so much joy. She said, Here all I have is God, and without Him, I couldn’t get through a day, but in America, you don’t need God. Her point still sticks with me because most people don’t depend on God to provide for their basic needs. We have so many comforts that if we aren’t careful, we’ll compromise our faith by forgetting Him.
This is what happened to the Israelites: In the wilderness, they knew they needed God every moment. However, as they entered the Promised Land, God reminded them that their newly found comfort could cause them to compromise their faith. Notice God says it could create pride, that says, I’ve earned this. Pride causes us to forget that every good and perfect gift comes from above. Enjoy it if you’re in a good season, but keep your eyes fixed on Him. Thank Him for all the blessings you have. Keep pride from creeping into your life.
APPLICATION: In seasons of comfort, enjoy but don’t let your dependence and devotion to God decrease.
PRAYER: Spend time thanking God for the good seasons. Thank Him for every blessing you’ve been given. Remember, every good and perfect gift is from above.