Prosperity Makes Me Uncomfortable

Deuteronomy 30:1-9 was part of the daily office, today.  I read it and thought to myself, “There is nothing here that I can blog.  This makes me feel uncomfortable.”

I struggle with the concept of turning to God (or turning back to God) in an attempt to gain stuff.  I know that’s not actually the point of this passage of Scripture, but I can see how it might be easily manipulated to look that way.  Follow God… be prosperous and numerous and wealthy, and even watch as curses are poured down on your enemies!

I can’t rally.

But there was this little gem, buried in the middle of it all…

“The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (v. 6).

I’m pretty sure circumcision of the heart is painful.  If we take the word at face value, we find ourselves talking about the cutting away of a layer that protects, that might even hide our vulnerability.  It’s bloody and messy.  It hurts and exposes. 

And this is what leads to love and life?

Well, OK…

I mean, that’s all I really want anyway… which makes me think it might qualify as prosperous…

 
L.