Deuteronomy 8:17-18a

You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18a

This is a great verse for keeping you humble..... often times we get caught up in the thought that we DESERVE that raise or that promotion or that nice new toy we have been working so hard to get but this verse reminds us of the truth.

I have, many times in my life, found myself saying...I deserve this.... raise, job, promotion, reward for my hard work....I was wrong to think this and in Truth so is everyone else....not that its wrong to want to be rewarded for your hard work....because I believe you should be rewarded for hard work but to believe you DESERVE it is a different story....

This matter plays in almost directly to my feelings on tithing as well......
in short its like this:

If you give lets say 10% of your earnings away to the church....its not actually giving away anything....its GOD allowing you to earn the other 90% for you and your family...... if GOD didn't provide you with that job or the physical or mental ability to produce at that job you wouldn't have it....therefore that money you are giving to his house is small in comparison to not actually having a job at all...am I right?...of course I am!

this principle applies to any situation where we believe we DESERVE something...its because of GODs Good grace we were in the situation to earn this things in the first place....so if anyone deserves anything.....GOD deserves a than you for putting you in that spot....at least give the praise to him ....as well as a thank you when you get that object of your desire.....it ultimately is all up to him!

One of my favorite new sayings about this idea is this: "WORK like its up to you, BELIEVE like its up to GOD"

Follow that thought and your head will always be in the right place....and GOD will continue to put you in the right place...... That reminds me of a story my brother told me leading up to another great quote.... he go to speak with an elderly man (70's) who had been walking with the lord for well over half his life and my brother had the wits to ask him an awesome question..... in your long walk whats the single most important thing you have learned....the man thought about it for a second and replied.....

"Stay humble.....the second you believe that these great things being done are because of you ...GOD is done using you"

both of these are great quotes but you can never knock the advice from someone who is more than twice your age.....try to apply this things to your daily life and watch how many great things the lord has for you and does through you.....exciting times ...

Hope this helps someone .... Grace and Peace be upon you all