When abundance becomes a test

Scripture: “So He gave them what they asked for, but sent leanness into their soul.” —Psalm 106:15 (NKJV) Devotional Thought: Why would a loving God give us something that might draw our hearts away from Him? It’s a question worth pausing to consider—especially when we begin to desire things like wealth, status, or comfort more than we desire Him. If money has the power to give us a false sense of peace, if we begin to rely on it rather than God, then why would He ever give us an abundance of it? The answer lies not just in what God gives, but why He gives it. At times, God withholds certain things out of mercy, knowing they would become a snare to our souls (Psalm 84:11). At other times, He gives us what we crave—not to reward us, but to reveal what still rules our hearts. Like the Israelites who longed for meat in the wilderness, God may give us what we ask for, but it comes with spiritual leanness if it replaces Him as our source of satisfaction. Abundance, then, becomes a test. Will we love the Giver more than the gift? Will we worship the Provider or the provision? God is both a generous Father and a jealous God who will not share His glory with idols (Isaiah 42:8). If we’re overwhelmed by the very things we idolize, it may be grace—not punishment—that withholds them. Or it may be grace that allows them to show us where repentance is needed. Reflection Questions: What in your life are you tempted to idolize—money, success, relationships, security? Have you ever mistaken abundance for peace, only to realize it left you spiritually dry? How is God inviting you to examine your desires in light of His holiness? Prayer: Father, search my heart and show me anything I’ve placed above You. Forgive me for finding peace in created things instead of the Creator. Teach me to long for Your presence more than provision. Whether You give or withhold, let it always lead me to deeper trust and dependence on You alone. Amen.