Introduction: The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1
I. Remember where our blessings and provisions come from. (v.10)
- This passage starts with an excellent piece of advice: when you are satisfied,
content or fulfilled, your first reaction should be to thank God and praise
Him for what He has done.
- We’re used to thanking God for a meal, but what about our paychecks?
- When you open your paycheck or check your direct deposit, is your first thought
to praise God for providing your money?
II. Remember there is a warning for failure to recognize this. (vs.11-14)
Here, we see how we get into trouble.
A. Many people find that it is easier to praise God in their suffering than it is
to praise Him in their success.
B. Success often blinds us to God’s provisions.
- Success lulls us into a false sense of self-sufficiency, and that only leads us away
- from God.
C. When things are going good—job promotions, raised incomes, obedient
D. children, good grades—it is easy to sit back and think that we deserve these things.
E. As we convince ourselves that our blessings are the result of only our
own hard work, we slowly begin to lose sight of the Lord.
- Verse 14 issues a solemn warning that we cannot ignore.
F. If we keep our eyes on our own accomplishments, then our hearts
- become proud.
G. The indictment of pride is a serious offense.
H. Pride is one of the few things of which Scripture says God absolutely
- hates.
- (Proverbs 6:16–19)
III. Remember what God has done in the past to stand strong today. (vs.15-16)
- This passage drives home the point that God is the one who has done the work.
- Speaking to the Israelites, Moses recounts all of God’s miracles throughout their
journeys through the desert.
- The overriding theme in these two verses is clear: God did it.
- Whatever it is you think you accomplished, think again. God did it.
IV. Remember to rely on God in good times as well as bad. (vs.17-18)
- Verse 17 says what most of think in our moments of triumph: “My power and
the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
1. That is, “Hey, look what I did! I worked hard and I made this money!”
2. How often have we said, or at least thought, something like this?
- Verse 18 tells us the antidote to this kind of self-congratulation.
3. We are called to “remember the Lord” because He is the one who
- “gives [us] the ability to produce wealth.”
- a. It is interesting that in the opening of the passage, we are
- warned not to forget (a passive act), and here at the end, we are
- called to actively remember.
- This shows that forgetting something, or someone, is
- easy. We just relax our minds, focus on the things we
- can put our hands on, and let the important things slip
- right out of our minds.
- However, remembering is more intentional. It is active. It
- indicates a sharp, controlled and disciplined mind.
- b. I can forget something accidentally, but I have to focus to
- remember. I think this is one way in which Scripture is calling us
- to master our thoughts.
4. Again, God owns it all. That doesn’t just mean that God owns all the land
and all the “stuff.” It means:
a. God gives us our abilities.
b. God gives us our resources.
c. God gives us our skills and talents.
d. God gives us opportunities to earn money.
e. God gives us bodies and strength and energy to work.
f. God gives our employers the money to pay us with.
