How do you make wealth? Deuteronomy 7-9

Deuteronomy 8:16-18 (NASBStr)

In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth. ’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

It is so easy in life to look at your position, possession and power and think back about how YOU made it all happen.  In fact, we celebrate OUR accomplishments.  Walk into most offices of CEOs or leaders of any organization and you will see artifacts of the accomplishments hanging on walls and/or sitting on shelves.  Like historical cheerleaders they silently applaud that we are great, good and grand.    We think that our degrees, our victories, and our published reputation have been accomplished by our brain, braun and/or beauty.   God was worried that the nation of Israel would set the same path for themselves.   He sent Moses to remind them that they did not accomplish their journey through 40 years in the wilderness by their own efforts.  They did not live Egypt because of their strength.  In fact, they were not God's people because of their numbers.   God gives wealth, strength, honor and reputation for His glory and to keep His promises.   We ought to never take glory for making wealth.   God makes that happen.   When we boast of our accomplishments we take glory from God.   He gives us talent and skill and turns that talent and skill into wealth.   God promises that if we use our talent and skill for Him, He will honor us.  He doesn't honor us, however, because we are skilled.  He honors us because He honors His promises.   He equips us; He gives us strength to us that skill; He gives us the faith to believe to use that skill for Him - what is in all that whereby we think we can have any honor?   Give God the glory for your skill and the fact He enables us to make wealth.