The Might of our Hands

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Sometimes we decide that we can take the credit for our blessings in our lives. We get a hefty raise at work, or a new job, and immediately we claim the credit for ourselves, either through our incredible work or through our attitude or ethics. Our blessings continuously provide us with fodder to build our own straw monuments.

The Israelites had wandered through the desert for 40 years, and Moses was addressing them for one of the last times in the desert. In this address, Moses, the leader of the nation of Israel, was warning them about the dangers of pride and forgetting the blessings of God.

It is a powerful reminder for us that, even today, we still can fall prey to the same type of prideful attitude. Rather than thanking God for our bounteous table, we shower ourselves with accolades and praise. Rather than realizing that our very breath in our lungs is a gift from Almighty God, we take the credit for our success and give ourselves the pat on the back reserved for God. After all, it was God who said

"For every beast of the forest is Mine, The Cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine" Psalm 50:10-11

God does not owe us anything. We don't earn anything. God's blessings to us are His gifts of providence to us. Rather than hoisting our trophies up into the air in homage to ourselves, let us instead be grateful to an awesome God who provides in abundance for us.