When we assess what gives us the most trouble in life, we usually point to trials or problems. It can be hard to trust the Lord or have a good attitude in the midst of them. We feel life would be so much easier, and we’d be much more useful to God and others, without these issues that cost us so much time and effort and emotion.

Yet, it’s often those trials that strengthen our faith and give us a platform to show God’s grace and faithfulness to others.

We don’t suspect our blessings, the good things in our lives, of causing us any harm. But God gives a warning to Israel that is just as applicable to us today.

In Deuteronomy, Moses was preparing the people for the new land and life they were about to enter. He reiterated God’s commands and warnings. He reminded them of how God cared for them in the wilderness for forty years. He gave a brief preview in Deuteronomy 8 of the blessings to come. But those blessings came with a couple of unexpected warnings.

“Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 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, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for ^rit is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day’ ( Deuteronomy 8:11-18).

Don’t forget God. Moses warned the people that when they experienced the long-awaited blessings of the promised land, they’d be tempted to forget God. And that’s true for us, too, isn’t it? When life is easy, we often grow complacent and then independent. We forget everything we have is from God. We forget the lessons we learned through the trials. We need God just as much as we ever did, but we don’t feel that need as much in the good times.

Don’t be proud. Moses warns that after blessings, then our hearts can be “lifted up.” Centuries later, King Uzziah demonstrated this very thing. After listing his accomplishments, the Bible says, “He was marvelously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 26:15-16).

Back to Deuteronomy 8, Moses goes on to say, “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” (verse 17). Chapter 9:4 repeats, “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land.” The point is made further in 9:6: “Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.”

It’s an odd thing that we can become proud when God is the one who gave us whatever we have. But I have experienced that, and I imagine you have, too.

How can we combat these temptations?

Remember whose we are. Back in Deuteronomy 7:6, Moses reminds the people, “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.” When we remember we are not our own, but we are bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus, we are motivated to yield to His will and not our own.

Do God’s will. “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today” (Deuteronomy 8:11). His commandments are not grievous, John says, but are for our good.

Remember how God has led you. Deuteronomy 7 and 8 recount how God led His people. Chapter 7, verse 2 says, “And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you.” When we look back at God’s leading and provision in our lives, trust and praise to Him bubbles up within us.

Remember everything comes from Him. “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). Jeremiah 9:23-24 tells us “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’”1 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”

Remember His past mercies. Moses reminds the people, “Remember and do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness” (9:7). When we think we “deserve” blessing, we need a quick reality check. If we got what we deserved, we’d be in big trouble. But God deals with us in mercy and grace.

Be thankful. The downward trajectory of mankind detailed in Romans 1 says, among other things, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (verse 21). We need to thank God not only because He deserves it, but we need the reminder to acknowledge His gifts with thanksgiving.

Don’t trust in your blessings. Paul instructed Pastor Timothy, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). We’re prone to find our security in our “stuff,” our tangible blessings. But those can be taken away. Our only security is in God.

Use blessings to help others. Paul further instructs those with much, “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:18-19). God blesses us that we may in turn bless others, not hoard our blessings for ourselves.

It’s not that anything is wrong with the blessings God gives us. Rather, our hearts are “prone to wander,” as the old hymn says–prone to look to ourselves instead of God, prone to trust in the gift rather than the Giver, prone to forget who gives us our blessings in the first place.

May God give us grace to always look to Him, love Him, lean on Him, and use the resources He gives us for His honor and glory.

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)