March
17, 2006
Scripture and Spiritual Reflection
by Rev. Dr. Stépanos
Dingilian
Copyright ©
2005
Deuteronomy
8:11-14*
Take
heed lest you forget the LORD your God, by not keeping his commandments and his
ordinances and his statutes, which I command you this day lest, when you have
eaten and are full, and have built goodly 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, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
*Gospel Reading Courtesy Armenian Apostolic Church, Eastern Diocese, US
Daily Spiritual Reflection
This
is a simple message that when we attain some objectives through God’s help, we
need not become ungrateful and even forgetful of the source of life's blessings.
Why?
First,
of course because it is an ugly reflection of who we are. How often have we gone
out of our way and helped others, only to receive in turn offensive comments and
outright hurtful actions from those we helped? What did we think of those
people? How ungrateful, unappreciative, and even “evil” they are! We place
ourselves in the same shoes as those ungrateful people when we do not appreciate
God’s prominence in our daily priorities.
Second,
more than cheating God, we shortchange ourselves of even greater
accomplishments. When we take for granted or even ignore our spiritual roots, we
ignore our strengths of free will, wisdom, courage, the ability to love and to
seek even greater objectives in life.
Therefore,
appreciating God who brought us out of “bondage,” especially out of
“spiritual bondage,” gives us greater meaning, peace, joy, and motivation to
live. But when we are unappreciative of God, we become our worst enemy and
obstacle for growth and progress in life. The choice is ours.
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