Deuteronomy 8
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Take care lest you forget the LORD your God … lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God …
Beware lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.”
Deuteronomy 8:3,11-14,17
Who does not need to hear (and heed) these words any more than we Americans do? It is all too easy for us to look at the myriad blessings we enjoy and think that, somehow, we ourselves are responsible. Even when we intellectually acknowledge our dependence on the Lord, our hearts are often quick to sing a different song.
Counteracting our natural inclination requires deliberate effort. Look at the words Moses uses: “Take care…, Beware…” We cannot just sit idly by and allow delusion to sweep over us. We must actively guard against it, reminding ourselves over and over again that all that we have comes from the Lord. And that should lead us to gratitude and humility.
So count your many blessings today — even the blessings disguised as difficulties (v. 3) — and be grateful.