Abundance Acknowledges Importance

Scripture:
Israel is a lush vine;
it yields fruit for itself.
The more his fruit increased,
the more he increased the altars.
The better his land produced,
the better they made the sacred pillars.
Hosea 10:1

Observation: This is a major point against Israel declared by the Lord, that when Israel is blessed ... in the years where crops are great, trade is wonderful, and they have an overflow of riches for all ... they use that overflow to improve their sinful practices. They will expand and improve the alters where they sacrifice to idols, and they will increase and improve pillars erected to other gods. In other words, when Yahweh blesses them - or at least doesn't curse them - they use the overflow to increase their sin.

This is a sign of how far all people have turned away from the Lord: That when their lives are going well, they move their behaviors even further from the Lord. They fail to recognize that blessings come from the Lord, and rather attribute success to themselves and their work. As a result, the rewards of that work can be used for whatever they choose as important, and the fact their sin and idol worship is what is important to them becomes evident.

Application: Despite everything going on in my life, there is no possible way for me to ignore the fact that I have abundance. What do I use that abundance for? I use it for travel, 'securing' my future and retirement, and a fair amount of good food and wine. And yes, I give a significant amount to the Lord, but ... is it enough? Is it primary? Is it in acknowledgment that the abundance came from him in the first place and is actually all his?

Not only do I sin too much, I also fail to make the Lord the most important aspect of my life as evidenced by how I distribute my abundance. Frankly, it should all go to God. However, he doesn't ask for that, he only asks that it not go toward sinful and worldly things. I do not use my resources for worshipping other gods, but I need to be careful that these other activities that my resources go toward - the travel and food and drink and happiness - do not become my idols.

Here is how they could be defined as my idols ... I am to trust in the Lord for my joy and security, AND know that when I have those things in my life they are provided by God. Do I find more joy in a nice dinner out than I do in the Lord? Do I find more security in a retirement account than I do in the Lord? And if I have these things, do I acknowledge that the joy and security are actually from the Lord, and not of my own doing?

I feel I am 'good' on this last point, for I absolutely know that every good thing in my life comes from the Lord, and that I myself can do nothing. I am of no value, no worth, with no skills, outside of what the Lord has chosen to allow me so that I can receive his blessings.

However, when I have abundance - when I receive new abundance - where will it go? It must go to the Lord, for he is most important in my life.

Prayer: Lord, again today I say, please forgive me, and please guide me. You know how badly I have been struggling with my mind and my heart and my soul. Please again, give me your strength, and the strength of the Holy Spirit, as I go forward this day and every day. Amen.