During
the celebration of the Chinese New Year, it is customary to use certain words
in print and conversation. One word is often used by itself. It is the word full,
meaning “abundance of” and is used to wish someone material prosperity for the
year ahead.
Moses
told the Israelites about the wealth and prosperity in the land of Canaan
before they entered it (Deut. 8:7-9). They
would have everything they needed and more. But he warned them of the danger of
forgetting that God, the One who had brought them out of Egypt and protected
them along the way, had given them that abundance (v.11). Thus Moses commanded
them, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power
to get wealth” (v.18).
“Wealth,”
of course, is not just material things. Everything you have is from God. Our
Lord Jesus told His disciples, “I have come that [you] may have life, and that
[you] may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
We too
may be tempted to forget that it’s the Lord who has blessed us and has met our
needs. Our lives will be full, abundant, and satisfying only when we are connected
to Jesus Christ.
Never
let the abundance of God’s gifts
cause you to forget the Giver. (RBC
