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Abstract

than others. But the fact remains that we have exponentially more than the majority of the world’s population.</p><p id="aae9">Yet, turn on the news and it becomes obvious how broken we are, how much self-inflicted suffering we cause even as we’re blessed with the finest of everything.</p><blockquote id="963d"><p><b><i>We’ve have eaten and are full and have grown fat, and we’ve turned from agreeable universal values in favor of pride and selfish ambitions.</i></b></p></blockquote><h1 id="18b8">Why is this a problem?</h1><p id="6336">For starters, as God predicted, the Israelites indeed turned from Him and sought selfish ambitions of their own.</p><p id="c25c"><i>(Spoiler, it didn’t turn out so well for them.)</i></p><p id="a77b">They placed earthly gods (such as sex, power, and money) before God himself, abandoning the values that brought them to the Promised Land in favor of earthly gain. The end result?</p><p id="3f09">The eventual split and demise of the kingdom of Israel.</p><p id="d9ea">Knowing humanity this was, unfortunately, easy to predict. Humanity has witnessed civilization after civilization rise, rule, and eventually fall, often in part because of our own selfish ways.</p><p id="54ec">In other words, our ability to find or create “first world problems.”</p><blockquote id="c0bf"><p><b><i>Modern America epitomizes first world problems and with it, all of the ugly that breeds such a mindset. Again, turn on the news for a few minutes and you’ll quickly see just how true this is.</i></b></p></blockquote><h1 id="0ca9">Where do we go from here?</h1><p id="77a3">It can’t be all doom and gloom, right? There has to be some ray of sunshine?</p><p id="d462">For starters, I’m not here to say that all wealth or all material is bad. God gave us these as a gift to enjoy during our lives.</p><p id="55b1">However, like any addiction, the problem arises when we place wealth and the material before others, especially before God.</p><p id="6482">But there is always a reason to have hope. Just as the Bible demonstrates time and time again, a faction of believers who are upright in nature, a beacon of the good in humanity, find a way to cut through the “ugly.”</p><p id="568e">The times are no different today. There are many who exemplify true Christian values and are model citizens. Yet for many, we are pulled off course or are distracted from a righteous lifestyle because of the “first world problem” syndrome our culture has adopted.</p><p id="26f8">This is where circling back to Deuteronomy 31:20 comes into play. The more we humbly acknowledge and accept God's warning, the more that we can remember Him, or at least remember the values that are fundamental to peaceful human existence.</p><blockquote id="d037"><p><b><i>Acknowledging our “fat and full” ways is a step in the right direction, because one could argue that the honey has run out and the milk has spoiled, and we best change course before America goes the way of many past empi

Options

res.</i></b></p></blockquote><h1 id="7f24">Call to action</h1><p id="0b02">While I understand that many do not identify with Christianity (or are completely repulsed by the idea), I would urge that all should build a habit around reading the Bible.</p><p id="762d">Even from a purely historical perspective, the Bible is a fascinating read. However, so much more wisdom and hope can be garnered within its pages that profoundly apply today.</p><p id="c11e">Wisdom that, in a society as <i>fat and full </i>as any, would go a long way towards rediscovering the joy, peace, and hope that many of us have lost.</p><blockquote id="4147"><p><b><i>If you’ve never read the bible or are unsure of where to begin, I would recommend starting with the New International Version (NIV). It is accurate and easy to read, and will open your eyes to the wisdom and beauty of our existence.</i></b></p></blockquote><blockquote id="6f79"><p>I hope that this short reflection on Deuteronomy 31:20 is a blessing to you, and I welcome any comments/criticism regarding my perspective.</p></blockquote><p id="7c61"><b>If this story resonated with you, you can read more from Jeff below:</b></p><div id="de92" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/do-you-struggle-with-prayer-87379f7c4a19"> <div> <div> <h2>Do You Struggle with Prayer?</h2> <div><h3>Simplify your relationship with God by following Christ’s example</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*m8VxdG474HmRGGUiI77z9Q.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="485c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-benefits-of-living-a-tedious-life-efec01917a4b"> <div> <div> <h2>The Benefits of Living A Tedious Life</h2> <div><h3>How coffee brewing helped me find joy and a more intentional lifestyle</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Ydobgy0LQUaw29FdaodNhg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="e030" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/your-advice-isnt-for-everyone-f94a6321a076"> <div> <div> <h2>Your Advice Isn’t for Everyone</h2> <div><h3>Be okay with it.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*kPUOqLDtlI6y95osMmTX2w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Deuteronomy Is More Relevant Today Than You Even Know

Why Americans ought to give chapter 31 a read.

Yes, I’m a Christian, but I can assure you that this observation reaches all of those who can utter the term, “first world problems.”

A few months back during my routine morning devotional, I happened to be in the home stretch of Deuteronomy when I came across the following verse:

For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. — Deuteronomy 31:20 (ESV)

For those who are unfamiliar, God is speaking directly to Moses, explaining that he’s about to die, (comforting, right?) and that Joshua is to be commissioned to take his place as leader of the Israelites. Joshua will finally lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, but there’s a catch…

In Deut 31:20, God is saying after all these years of wandering through the wilderness, not to mention the time that’s passed since God first made this promise with Abraham, that the Israelites are going to enter the Promised Land, only to give God the proverbial finger.

Sounds like the typical human response, amirite?

How does this verse apply today?

America, by modern standards, is the land flowing with milk and honey. We have all of the luxury's available that one could ask for:

Lavish homes
The finest clothes
Medical and technological marvels
Abundant energy
Endless food and water

Should I continue?

Sure, there is no question that many Americans have significantly less than others. But the fact remains that we have exponentially more than the majority of the world’s population.

Yet, turn on the news and it becomes obvious how broken we are, how much self-inflicted suffering we cause even as we’re blessed with the finest of everything.

We’ve have eaten and are full and have grown fat, and we’ve turned from agreeable universal values in favor of pride and selfish ambitions.

Why is this a problem?

For starters, as God predicted, the Israelites indeed turned from Him and sought selfish ambitions of their own.

(Spoiler, it didn’t turn out so well for them.)

They placed earthly gods (such as sex, power, and money) before God himself, abandoning the values that brought them to the Promised Land in favor of earthly gain. The end result?

The eventual split and demise of the kingdom of Israel.

Knowing humanity this was, unfortunately, easy to predict. Humanity has witnessed civilization after civilization rise, rule, and eventually fall, often in part because of our own selfish ways.

In other words, our ability to find or create “first world problems.”

Modern America epitomizes first world problems and with it, all of the ugly that breeds such a mindset. Again, turn on the news for a few minutes and you’ll quickly see just how true this is.

Where do we go from here?

It can’t be all doom and gloom, right? There has to be some ray of sunshine?

For starters, I’m not here to say that all wealth or all material is bad. God gave us these as a gift to enjoy during our lives.

However, like any addiction, the problem arises when we place wealth and the material before others, especially before God.

But there is always a reason to have hope. Just as the Bible demonstrates time and time again, a faction of believers who are upright in nature, a beacon of the good in humanity, find a way to cut through the “ugly.”

The times are no different today. There are many who exemplify true Christian values and are model citizens. Yet for many, we are pulled off course or are distracted from a righteous lifestyle because of the “first world problem” syndrome our culture has adopted.

This is where circling back to Deuteronomy 31:20 comes into play. The more we humbly acknowledge and accept God's warning, the more that we can remember Him, or at least remember the values that are fundamental to peaceful human existence.

Acknowledging our “fat and full” ways is a step in the right direction, because one could argue that the honey has run out and the milk has spoiled, and we best change course before America goes the way of many past empires.

Call to action

While I understand that many do not identify with Christianity (or are completely repulsed by the idea), I would urge that all should build a habit around reading the Bible.

Even from a purely historical perspective, the Bible is a fascinating read. However, so much more wisdom and hope can be garnered within its pages that profoundly apply today.

Wisdom that, in a society as fat and full as any, would go a long way towards rediscovering the joy, peace, and hope that many of us have lost.

If you’ve never read the bible or are unsure of where to begin, I would recommend starting with the New International Version (NIV). It is accurate and easy to read, and will open your eyes to the wisdom and beauty of our existence.

I hope that this short reflection on Deuteronomy 31:20 is a blessing to you, and I welcome any comments/criticism regarding my perspective.