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Deuteronomy 8:18
by Don Costello Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. a. [NIV] But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. 1). Establishing the Covenant is the goal and thus God gives the ability to get wealth in order to achieve it. 2). God giving me the ability to get wealth is an act of God in establishing the Covenant in my life. 1."But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God" a. When we forget God we will walk in disobedience. 1). Psalm 78:5-7 "For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:" 2). Psalm 78:9-11 "The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them." b. This exhortation was given in light of their prosperity, in light of their ability to be blessed materially. The surrounding verses before and after shed much light on this verse. 1). Deuteronomy 8:11-17 "Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth." 2. "for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth" a. power [3581 * kowach] [Strong's :to be firm, vigor, force, capacity, means produce, ability, might.] b. An important part of this is that God is not against people being rich as long as we don't forget following his commandments. 3. "that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." a. There are two lines of thought that could apply in this verse. In these lines of thought we have the three Biblical reasons for money. 1). The first line of thought is that by giving his people the ability to make wealth he was establishing his covenant. 2). The second line of thought is that God will give his people the ability to make wealth so that they will give into the kingdom so that his covenant is spread through out the land. b. The three reasons for money. 1) Give to the needy. a). Ephesians 4:28 "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." 2). Provide for our own a). 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12 "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." 3). Establish the Covenant a). Deuteronomy 8:18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children. My e-mail address is [email protected] I have a blog located at: www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |