Righteousness Exalts a Nation

Proverbs 14:34 tells us:  ”Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (NET)

As I’ve read through Deuteronomy recently I was struck by the theme of God’s material blessing for obedience.

Deuteronomy chapter 30 is a good example of this, summarised in verses 9-10: ”The Lord your God will make the labor of your hands abundantly successful and multiply your children, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil. For the Lord your God will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being.”  (NET)

One of the large debates in the Christian world today revolves around this very issue.  Does God make us “prosperous” when we truly follow Him in obedience and faith?

There are many who say yes, and they say it emphatically and repeatedly, often from the pulpits of our television screens.  This group will point to scripture after scripture like Deuteronomy 30.

However there are also a large number who strongly believe and state that such teaching is actually opposed to the Christian gospel.  This group will also refer to various scriptures, but particularly to the example of Jesus who said: “Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20 NET) This statement from Jesus was in response to someone who wanted to follow Him and is a clear indication that following Jesus involves sacrifice of worldly comforts and possessions.

So, who do we believe?  Obviously it is going to be a whole lot more attractive to people to suggest:  if you follow Jesus you will become prosperous; than it is to suggest:  if you follow Jesus you will have to sacrifice worldly comforts and possessions.  I confess that my heart has long swayed me to believe in the path of sacrifice and to have sympathy with those who say that following Jesus does not result in material blessing.

Yet I cannot deny the clear theme of scripture that comes through in Deuteronomy and other parts of the Bible relating God’s blessing with obedience.  Furthermore, the evidence of history and our world today appears to stand on the side of prosperity.  Analyse the great nations of our world in the last 100 years.  How many of their societies are underpinned by Christian faith and morality?  Consider the influence of Great Britain and the abolition of slavery through the work of William Wilberforce and many other Christian people of 200 years ago.  What about the undeniable Christian history of the USA?  Set up as a series of colonies founded on Christian faith, the USA has been remarkably prosperous.  Australia too may lay claim to Christian foundations.  Our rule of law and our system of government are based on justice and honesty – fundamental Christian tenets of faith – and in comparison with most of our world we are exceedingly wealthy.

It certainly appears to be true that “righteousness exalts a nation”.

In closing, let me make three comments that I make to myself as much as I make them to you.

1.  Today’s “prosperity gospel” seems to be preached along the lines of “follow God and you will get rich”.  This panders to our greed, which makes our motivations suspect.  In contrast, Deuteronomy 30:6 states “you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”  If you are following God to get rich, I challenge you – do you really love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul?  Luke 6:13 makes it clear that you cannot love both God and money:  ”No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (NET)

2.  Nevertheless, if you are struggling with finances, it may very well be worth examining yourself to see if there is unconfessed or habitual sin in your life.  We can hardly expect God to bless us if we are not following Him whole-heartedly.  Is there something in your life that is taking the place of God?  Now is the time for repentance.  Turn from your sinful ways and turn to the Living God, our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Place your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin.

3.  Recognise that the blessing of God may be for the nation rather than for the individual.  Rather than focusing on what you can get out of the relationship with God, consider what you role you are playing in bringing God’s blessing to your fellow citizens.

By God’s grace we are
Dry Bones Dancing (Ezekiel 37)

Chris

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