Utah's Hope

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels that he is finding his place in it, while really it is finding its place in him.”

That is a sobering warning. Prosperity can be a blessing from God, but it becomes dangerous when it begins to shape our identity. Wealth itself is not the problem. The danger comes when our possessions begin to speak for us—when they become a way of saying, Look how successful I am. Look how secure I am. Look how important I’ve become.

That temptation is not new. We see it clearly in the life of King Hezekiah.

Hezekiah was one of Judah’s better kings. Scripture tells us he trusted in the Lord, removed idols, and led the people back toward faithful worship. When Jerusalem was threatened by Assyria, Hezekiah prayed, and God miraculously delivered the city.

Around that same time, Hezekiah became gravely ill. Once again, God showed him mercy and extended his life by fifteen years.

So Hezekiah had much to testify about. He had seen God’s deliverance. He had received God’s mercy. He had literally been spared from death. But then came a test.

2 Kings 20 tells us that envoys arrived from Babylon after hearing about Hezekiah’s illness. They brought letters and a gift, and Hezekiah welcomed them.

Verse 13 says, “And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.”

There was nothing he did not show them.

Hezekiah had a golden opportunity to point these visitors to the God who had healed and delivered him. Instead, he opened his vault.

Hezekiah’s failure was not that he had treasure. His failure was that he magnified what he owned rather than the God who gave it.

His wealth became his testimony.

Later, the prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah and asked a piercing question: “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”

Isaiah’s response was sobering. The very wealth Hezekiah had displayed would one day be carried off to Babylon.

It is a powerful warning for us. Hezekiah treated God’s provision as a monument to his own success. He forgot that everything in his storehouses had first been entrusted to him by the Lord.

Wealth becomes spiritually dangerous the moment we look at what we have and say, “Look what I built,” instead of, “Look what God has done.”

Jeremiah 9:23 says, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches.”

That verse names three things people have always been tempted to trust: intelligence, influence, and wealth. We are drawn to whatever makes us feel strong, secure, or significant.

But the next verse gives us a better boast: “But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me.”

That is the only boast that lasts. Not what we own. Not what we earn. Not what we build. Not what others think of us.

Our true boast is that we know the Lord—the God of steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.

So what does Hezekiah’s story mean for us as modern-day stewards?

First, we should ask whether wealth has begun creeping into our identity. 

There is nothing wrong with enjoying God’s provision. Scripture teaches us to receive His gifts with gratitude. But provision should lead us toward worship, humility, and generosity—not self-importance.

When we begin to believe that our possessions prove our worth, success, or security, we are n

To borrow from Mark Twain, “bad news can travel halfway around the world, while good news is still putting on its shoes.” When an influential believer falls into sin, it seems like we hear about it at the speed of light. But how do we reach out to someone who’s helped us, when they’re the ones who need help? Pastor Greg Laurie answers that question today on A NEW BEGINNING. We’re considering a story about Noah in the book of Genesis. This godly man sinned. But we can learn from this biblical account.

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Ever feel exhausted trying to be “good enough” for God? On FamilyLife Today, Dave and Ann Wilson sit down with Portia Collins for a funny, raw conversation about legalism, perfectionism, and the night a Galatians Bible study wrecked her life—in the best way possible. Between Marvel talk and gaming stories, Portia unpacks how grace finally broke through years of guilt, striving, and performance-based faith.

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George Washington and other American leaders during the Revolutionary War displayed extraordinary faith in God. They attributed success on the battlefield to God, called the American people to days of fasting and prayer for the Revolution, and wrote Christian principles into America’s Founding documents. Rod Gragg recounts fascinating stories of our nation’s history and how Christians can learn from the faith of America’s past leaders. He shares about the first Independence Day celebration, and how churches today can flourish in the midst of cultural shift away from a Biblical worldview.

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Before you borrow, it’s worth asking what the debt may cost beyond the interest rate. Debt can affect your budget, your marriage, your margin, and your ability to respond freely when God leads. That doesn’t mean borrowing is always wrong, but it does mean it should be approached carefully. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Ron Blue help you think wisely about borrowing. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Topics:

Beauty, A Challenge From Steve and the Stingrays, Callings, Mission Drifts, Proverbs 3

BONUS CONTENT: AI Writing, Romans 8

Quotes:

"Trust him. Trust him. Trust him. This comes up over and over. We have to trust him."

"You realize that your calling could be what you're doing. Being faithful with what you're doing right now."

"You're made to create."

"I love quirkiness. I love idiosyncrasy."

"A bigger question isn't why there's suffering in the world. It's why is almost everything so beautiful?"
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