Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God…

(Deut. 8:11 NIV)

Dr. Harold Urey, a Nobel Prize–winning chemist, was once walking along a sidewalk when he ran into another professor. They chatted for a few minutes, and as they parted, Dr. Urey asked, “John, which way was I going when I met you?”

“That way,” the other replied, pointing down the street.

“Oh, good,” said Dr. Urey, relieved. “That means I’ve already had lunch.”

Many of us can relate. Misplaced keys, forgotten names, the frantic search for reading glasses perched on our own heads — forgetfulness is part of being human.

But Scripture warns us about a kind of forgetfulness that’s far more serious: forgetting God.  Before Israel entered the Promised Land, God issued a sobering caution: “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God … lest when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and gold are multiplied … and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 8:11–14 NIV).

Notice the pattern. God didn’t warn them about forgetting him during hardship — suffering tends to drive us to our knees. The real danger comes when life is comfortable, when the pantry is stocked, when the promotions come through, when our plans actually work out.  Abundance has a way of leading to amnesia.

In times of prosperity, gratitude morphs into entitlement. We start thinking, “I’ve earned this. I’ve built this.”  But every good thing we enjoy comes from God’s hand.  Our talents?  Given to us by God.  Our opportunities?  Provided by God.  Our very next heartbeat?  Sustained by God.  Remembering this truth keeps our hearts humble and thankful.

So perhaps the next time you’re searching for those elusive car keys, let it become a gentle nudge to ask yourself:  “What else have I forgotten? Have I forgotten the One who provides all I have?

Forgetfulness will always be part of our human experience. But may we never forget the God who remembers us with a steadfast love.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your constant goodness. You’ve blessed me with more than I deserve, and yet I admit that I sometimes forget to give you credit when life feels easy. Open my eyes daily to see your hand behind every blessing.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day