Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 8:10-11

“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.”

Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today to reflect on the goodness of God and the blessings He pours out into our lives. Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite love, cares for us and provides us with everything we need. From the food we eat, to the roof over our heads, to the strength in our bodies—every good thing we have comes from Him. But with all these blessings comes a challenge that many of us overlook. That challenge is to remember God in the midst of our blessings, and to never let His gifts cause us to forget the Giver.

In the book of Deuteronomy, God speaks to the Israelites through Moses. After they had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, God was about to bring them into the Promised Land—a land flowing with milk and honey, a place of abundance. But before they could enter, God gave them a warning: “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.”

Why did God feel the need to give them this warning? Because He knew how easily we, as humans, can become so focused on the blessings that we forget the One who blesses us. When we are in need, we cry out to God, and when He answers our prayers, we rejoice. But once our needs are met and life becomes comfortable, it’s tempting to think we did it all on our own. We stop praying as often. We stop depending on God. Our hearts become distracted by the good things we have, and we lose sight of the Source of those blessings.

We see this pattern repeated throughout the Bible. The Israelites, after being delivered from slavery in Egypt and provided for in the wilderness, often turned away from God when they were comfortable and well-fed. In times of crisis, they called on the Lord, but in times of prosperity, they forgot Him.

Doesn't that sound familiar? How many of us do the same thing? When we face struggles—whether it’s financial hardship, health problems, or family issues—we are on our knees, asking God for help. But when those problems are solved, and we’re enjoying His blessings, we often forget to thank Him. Our prayer lives slow down, and our dependence on God diminishes.

But friends, God’s blessings are not given to distract us from Him. They are given to remind us of His love, His faithfulness, and His desire for us to draw closer to Him. Every blessing is a testimony to God’s goodness, and it should inspire us to serve Him with even greater devotion.

The danger lies in letting the blessings become a blindfold. When we fix our eyes on the gifts rather than the Giver, we lose our sense of gratitude, and we begin to take God for granted. We forget that without Him, we would have nothing.

So how do we avoid this? How do we keep our hearts focused on God, even when life is going well? It starts with a heart of thanksgiving. Gratitude is the key. Every day, we should intentionally thank God for the blessings in our lives, big and small. When you wake up in the morning, thank Him for another day of life. When you sit down to eat, thank Him for the food on your plate. When you enjoy good health, thank Him for the strength in your body.

But it’s not just about saying “thank you.” True gratitude leads to action. We show our thankfulness to God by using our blessings to serve Him and others. If God has blessed you with financial resources, be generous to those in need. If He has blessed you with talents or skills, use them to glorify Him and to serve your community. If He has blessed you with time, spend it in prayer, worship, and acts of kindness.

Let us also remember that blessings are not always material. Sometimes, the greatest blessings come in the form of peace in the midst of chaos, joy in the midst of sorrow, or strength in the midst of weakness. Even in difficult times, God is blessing us. When we recognize that, we are less likely to forget Him when things turn around.

In conclusion, my dear brothers and sisters, let us never forget that every good thing in our lives comes from God. His blessings are meant to draw us closer to Him, not further away. Let us guard our hearts against the temptation to forget God in times of plenty, and instead, let us use every blessing to honor and serve Him more faithfully. May we never allow the gifts to overshadow the Giver. Amen.