The Danger of Being Full
“But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.”
What does it mean to be full? Specifically, in the context above, it means to be not hungry, or not in need – in other words, satisfied. In fact, in the New International Version (NIV), verse 6 reads: “When I fed them, they were satisfied;” Seems like that would be a good thing, right? I mean, after all, the Bible says, “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). But the NIV continues (v6): “…when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”
Unfortunately, it is in our nature to begin to feel capable or self-sufficient over time when we have no apparent or felt needs. And however subtle, that feeling of self-sufficiency that creeps in when we are satiated can eventually become an ugly root of pride if we are not careful. Our hearts become lifted up. That’s when we tend to forget God.
Think about it. When are you most likely to aggressively seek the Lord in prayer? Is it when everything is going your way, all the bills are paid, you have good health, you love your job, and your neighbor is your best friend? Or is it when you’ve just lost your job, the car won’t start, a loved one is seriously ill, or your neighbor is suing you because of a property line dispute? How about when you are literally hungry, when you’re not sure where your next meal is coming from?
I’m reminded of the rich man who thought he wanted to follow Jesus (see Matthew 19:16-26). He thought he had done everything right – had all his ducks in a row, as it were. But Jesus challenged him by saying, “If you would be perfect (could also be translated as complete), go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” The young man went away sorrowful, unwilling to sacrifice his source of self-security. He was full. And because he was full, his perceived need of God was diminished from what it should have been.
God, through Moses, warned the Israelites (and us by the principle laid out) that this would be a temptation and that we should be on the lookout for it.
“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,…”
This is most definitely applicable to us who live here in the United States. We are some of the wealthiest people on earth compared to most other nations. We want for little. Well, I should rephrase that: we want much, but we have very little actual need. Most of us have warm houses to live in, reliable cars that do half of the thinking for us, jobs that provide good income and insurance, etc. In biblical vernacular, our herds, flocks, and silver and gold have multiplied. We are full.
It is so easy to just coast when we are feeling full. We drift into thinking, “Ah, life is good. I got this!” We begin to feel secure in our ability to succeed and prosper. We work hard to get “just a little more” to solidify that security. But that sense of self-sufficiency is a false idol. And it quietly draws us away from God as we begin to think we can handle the little things on our own. (Of course, we’ll still call on God for the big stuff.) God warns us about that feeling of self-sufficiency, as well:
“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 it is he who gives you power to get wealth,…”
The truth is, everything we have, everything we’ve accomplished, is only by the hand of the Lord. If we’re able to work, it’s because He gives us the ability to work. If we’re in good health, it’s because that is His will. If we have wealth, He has provided it. But those things are not guaranteed. Sometimes He has to shake us up a bit to keep us humble and to remind us that He is the One who ultimately feeds us, clothes us, and gives us shelter. He gives us every breath we take. Sometimes He brings trials, but the trials He allows are ultimately for our good.
“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
We don’t have to feel guilty if everything is going our way right now – if we are full. But we do want to be cautious that it doesn’t lead to a sense of self-reliance that causes our hearts to be lifted up in pride. We need to be grateful, acknowledging that we are being fed by our gracious heavenly Father, our Lord, our Savior.
Prayer:
Father, forgive us for the times we take for granted Your gracious provision. Forgive us when we allow thoughts of self-sufficiency and pride to creep in and turn our eyes away from You. We confess, Lord, that You alone are the giver of life and all good things. And we thank you for the trials that You bring, that refine us and ultimately draw us closer to You. We are blessed beyond measure. So we humbly thank You, and we praise You. Amen.
