Earning money and honoring God
“You shall remember the Lord your God, for it 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 8:18 (ESV)
In Deuteronomy 8:18, Moses reminds the people of Israel not to forget the Lord as they enter the land of promise. After decades in the wilderness, they were about to experience abundance—vineyards they didn’t plant, houses they didn’t build, and blessings they hadn’t earned. Yet with prosperity comes a temptation: the illusion of self-sufficiency.
How self-sufficient do you try to be? What's too far or too much?
“You shall remember the Lord your God…” That’s the heart of this verse. In seasons of blessing, it’s easy to start believing that our success is solely the result of our own strength, wisdom, or effort. But God cuts through that prideful mindset by reminding us: It is He who gives us the power to get wealth.
Everything we have—every skill, every opportunity, every resource—comes from Him. Our talents, our breath, our ability to think, to plan, to work, to earn—it all originates with the One who formed us. Wealth, then, isn’t a measure of our independence. It’s evidence of God’s faithfulness and provision.
But there’s a purpose behind this provision: “that He may confirm His covenant.” God blesses His people not merely for their comfort, but for His covenant purposes. The wealth He gives is intended to be a tool for kingdom impact—a way to bless others, fund ministry, care for the poor, and advance His mission on earth.
This verse calls us to live with both humility and responsibility. Humility, because we recognize that we are not self-made—we are God-sustained. Responsibility, because we understand that wealth is not for hoarding, but for stewarding. It’s not our identity, it’s our opportunity.
Remembering the Lord in times of abundance also guards our hearts from idolatry. When we forget the source, we start worshiping the gifts instead of the Giver. We tie our worth to our wealth and our peace to our possessions. But when we remember the Lord, we anchor our hearts in the unchanging Provider, not in changing circumstances.
For those walking through a season of plenty—give thanks, and remember. For those still waiting for provision—take heart, and trust. The same God who brought the Israelites into a land flowing with milk and honey is the God who walks with you today. He is able to provide, and He delights in giving good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).
© John Stange