Why Do People Forget God’s Faithfulness So Quickly?

Have you ever asked yourself “Why do people forget God’s faithfulness so quickly?” Especially, after He has done so much in their lives. Are you ready for this……God tells us some of the reasons why people forget about His faithfulness to us.

“It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. [9] It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. [10] When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. [11] “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. [12] For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, [13] and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! [14] Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. [15] Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! [16] He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. [17] He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ [18] Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. [19] “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. [20] Just as the LORD has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed if you refuse to obey the LORD your God.”

Deuteronomy 8:8-20 NLT

Here in Deuteronomy, God tells us that pride is one of the reasons we forget about His faithfulness to us. In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich. It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our life. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to manage it for him.

“After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them. [7] And the Israelites served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him-those who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel. [8] Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. [9] They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. [10] After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. [11] The Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight and served the images of Baal. [12] They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD. [13] They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. [14] This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to raiders who stole their possessions. He turned them over to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them. [15] Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, causing them to be defeated, just as he had warned. And the people were in great distress. [16] Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. [17] Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commands. [18] Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. [19] But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.”

Judges 2:6-19 NLT

Here in Judges, God tells us another reason why we forget about His faithfulness to us, selfishness. Why would the people of Israel turn so quickly from their faith in God? Simply put, the Canaanite religion appeared more attractive to the sensual nature and offered more short-term benefits (sexual permissiveness and increased fertility in childbearing and farming). One of its most attractive features was that people could remain selfish and yet fulfill their religious requirements. They could do almost anything they wished and still be obeying at least one of the many Canaanite gods. Male and female prostitution were not only allowed but encouraged as forms of worship.

Faith in the one true God, however, does not offer short-term benefits that appeal to our sinful human nature. The essence of sin is selfishness; the essence of God’s way of life is selflessness. We must seek Christ’s help to live God’s way.

“Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. [2] He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: [3] “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. [4] As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. [5] Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. [6] But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. [7] Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. [8] Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” [9] Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” [10] Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant. [11] He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, [12] so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.'” [13] Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? [14] The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. [15] The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. [16] The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. [17] But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. [18] The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, [19] but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. [20] And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Mark 4:1‐20

In Mark, God tells us that distractions is another reason why we forget about His faithfulness to us. Worldly worries, the false sense of security brought on by prosperity, and the desire for things plagued first-century disciples as they do us today. How easy it is for our daily routines to become overcrowded. A life packed with materialistic pursuits deafens us to God’s Word. Stay free so you can hear God when he speaks.