How to Prevent Spiritual Insanity

Deut 8:10-18

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 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…. 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….

 

Rom 1:21-25

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools … They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

 

 

There are a lot of good reasons to give thanks.  For one thing, it is just the right thing to do, considering all that we have been given.  But it’s good to keep in mind that the failure to give thanks and to praise God sets you up for disaster.  When we fail to acknowledge God as the giver of every gift we become self-centered rather than God-centered.  We start thinking that we are the ones who have produced these good things in our lives, or we give credit to a false god—in other words we become spiritually insane.

 

What a blessing that as a nation we have a day set aside for thanksgiving.  What a great reminder that all the good things we enjoy are gifts from above.  Of course, we need more than one day to keep ourselves from going spiritually insane.  Our lives should be characterized by gratitude.  Our speech should always include thanksgiving—it’s what keep you from going crazy.

 

Have a great celebration tomorrow!

 

Brian

 

 

No Band of Brothers this Friday.  See you on Dec. 2