April 5, 2010

abundant prosperity

We have all heard it said
that it is easy to praise God
when everything is going well…
but let adversity come…

Actually I think there is a greater danger
when we are prosperous and content…
for it is in such times that we can
become prideful and forget God.

“The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession
in prosperity than in adversity.
It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous.
The crucible of adversity
is a less severe trial to the Christian
than the refining pot of prosperity.
Oh, what leanness of soul
and neglect of spiritual things
have been brought on
through the very mercies
and bounties of God!
Yet this is not a matter of necessity,
for the apostle tells us
that he knew how to abound.
When he had much he knew how to use it.
Abundant grace enabled him to bear abundant prosperity.
We are full and we forget God:
satisfied with earth,
we are content to do without heaven.
Rest assured it is harder to know
how to be full
than it is to know how to be hungry…
so desperate is the tendency of human nature
to pride and forgetfulness of God.
Take care that you ask in your prayers
that God would teach you ‘how to be full.’”
- Spurgeon