For The Love of God

Text: Deuteronomy 6:4-15 Speaker: Pastor Matthew Ude Festival: Trinity Passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-15

Deuteronomy 6:4-15

There was an article this week about Lucy Guo, who has been named the youngest self-made billionaire. She claims her parents always emphasized the importance of money. She describes how, as a child, she was always seeking ways to make money. While other kids played with Pokémon cards or traded to complete their collections or acquire the rarest cards, she sought out rare cards to sell. Where others played video games for fun, she mined resources and sold them for real money.

How much of this is true is hard to verify, but the article certainly gives the impression that Lucy from an early age was constantly thinking about and looking for ways to earn.

Our text this morning encourages the same attitude towards the LORD. We should be as intentional about thinking on the Lord, His commandments, and His wonderful works, making Him foremost in our minds, attitudes, and actions at all times.

This is a lifelong task we must work on together. As your pastor, along with Sunday school teachers and our school staff, we are here to help you, the parents, pass on to the next generation the marvelous things God has done. But the most important factor begins at home. Is Jesus always on your heart, in your mind, and on your lips? Or is He only a presence on Sunday mornings?

The joy of the empty tomb and the glory of the Lamb of God, sacrificed for our sins, should never be left to gather dust in a box at home. For the love of your God, let children hear of His mighty deeds.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12
“So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

God warns us that when we have received His blessings, we are most prone to forget Him.

Today, in Bible class, we will learn about Rehoboam, son of Solomon, who became king after Solomon’s death. Initially, Rehoboam served the Lord faithfully, and during that time, God blessed Judah; the nation prospered. Rehoboam built many strong and fortified cities, but after three years, confident in his armies and defenses, he no longer felt he needed the LORD. He trusted in his own strength and turned his heart after other gods.

Then, Shishak, Pharaoh of Egypt, came against Rehoboam. Shishak’s army destroyed Judah’s fortified cities, and he took away gold and precious jewels—both from the king’s palace and the temple of the Lord.

People often ask, “If God is good, why does He allow so much evil?” But the truth is, it is not in suffering that we tend to forget God most; it’s in our prosperity. When life is abundant and filled with good things, we can quickly forget the Lord, placing trust in His gifts rather than in Him, the Giver.

Our Scripture urges us—when blessed abundantly—not to forget who brought those blessings. The Bible teaches us the opposite of our sinful flesh: When we have much, instead of pride or complacency, we should tremble and fear God. When we have little or are suffering, we tend to be anxious, but Scripture calls us to trust in the Lord, to be at peace and rejoice. Whether on mountaintop or in the valley, our eyes should be fixed on Him.

As those who have received much, we must be vigilant to remember and to teach our children: It was God who brought our ancestors into this land, blessed their labor, and filled our lives with good things.

Deuteronomy 6:8-9
“You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Our faith belongs everywhere.

In our day, it’s common to hear that religion doesn’t belong in the workplace or polite conversation. Many say, “Don’t talk about religion or politics.” Society often finds it more acceptable to joke about the bathroom or the marital bed than to speak about Jesus and His wondrous deeds.

But the Bible takes the opposite stance. God does not belong only in church or the home. He belongs first and foremost in our thoughts, words, and actions throughout every aspect of our lives. This doesn’t mean arguing about God at work, but it does mean that your faith should never be hidden or concealed. It should be evident both to yourself and to everyone around you.

God instructs us to bind His Word on our hands, between our eyes, and to write it on the doorposts and gates of our homes. The Orthodox Jews take this literally, and you may see them with small boxes called mezuzahs hanging by their doorways or between their eyes. But the real point is not about literal objects—it’s about constant, visible reminders. The things we do and say should reflect God’s Word, so it’s obvious to all who see us that our lives are marked by His presence.

I remember doing a wedding years ago, and afterward, I overheard people saying at the reception, “I didn’t know they were so religious.” Would your friends or coworkers be surprised to find out you’re a practicing Christian? If so, what does that say about your faith? Why might you hide your God? What about God makes Him unworthy of being openly acknowledged?

For the love of God, let His Word be a constant, visible reminder—not just to you, but to everyone who meets you.

Parents often tell children, “Do what I say, not what I do.” But children are more likely to imitate what they see than what they hear. If you tell your children that Jesus is important, that church and Sunday school are essential, but you yourself stay home on Sundays or neglect your faith, they will learn that Jesus is not truly a priority.

We serve a mighty and remarkable God—the one who parted the Red Sea, shut the mouths of lions, rescued men from fire, forgave sins like idolatry, adultery, and murder. The God who sent His Son to live among us, to die for our sins, and to rise again triumphant. How can we not rejoice, meditate, and talk about His wondrous deeds day and night?

As Jesus tells us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Write His Word on your door and your gate, so that future generations may also learn of the greatness of our God.

Let us treasure Him always, and may His deeds never cease to inspire our hearts and lives.