Rehoboam’s story reminds how difficult it is to keep success in perspective. The Doxology can help.

2 min read

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…

James 1:17

Way back in the days just before the American Revolution, a preacher from Boston by the name of Cotton Mather described with one sentence a scenario that has been replaying on a loop since time began. Mather observed, “Religion brought forth Prosperity and the daughter destroyed the mother.”

In layman’s terms, Mather was referring to this crazy phenomenon that happens when God blesses people. We forget about Him. After enjoying the freedom and goodness that goes with honoring God and putting him first, we soon forget how we got to that place and end up gradually walking away from the Source of goodness.

In a sense, we become spoiled by our blessings.

This phenomenon plays out over and over in Scripture. Take King Rehoboam, for example. For a season, Rehoboam was centered on his relationship with God, trying to lead right and live right. All was well. He and his people were doing great.

Then it happened.

“After Rehoboam’s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the Lord.” -2 Chronicles 12:1

What? How? It probably happened very slowly and subtly. Gradually, Rehoboam lost touch with reality and started thinking he had done it all by himself. He no longer needed God.

Rehoboam would later reconsider and repent, but his is a classic example of what happens when we lose sight of where our blessings come from.

How about you? How about us? Are we at risk for forgetting the Giver of every good and perfect gift today? Is prosperity spoiling us?

There’s one way to be sure it doesn’t. And that is to intentionally give honor and praise to God as the ultimate Source of the gifts of life, relationship, salvation, hope, and all that we enjoy.

Would you join me in singing the Doxology today as a way of remembering? Wherever you are, whatever is in front of you, let’s sing this simple song of praise together:

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above ye heav’nly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.