You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” - Deuteronomy 8:18

This verse occurs in the broader context of Moses’ warning to Israel not to forget God in times of prosperity. After reminding them of their dependence on God for sustenance in the wilderness (Deut. 8:3), Moses now exhorts them to acknowledge that even their future success and wealth in the Promised Land will be the result of God's gracious provision, not their own strength. The call to “remember” is not merely about mental recollection but about a heartfelt, covenantal awareness that leads to humble dependence and obedience. By pointing to God's faithfulness in granting them the ability to prosper, Moses refutes any idea of self-sufficiency and warns against the pride that can arise when one attributes success to personal effort rather than divine blessing.

Moreover, this verse underscores God’s covenantal faithfulness—His act of enabling Israel to gain wealth is not random but is tied to His sworn promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The wealth and stability Israel would experience in the land were not only blessings for their enjoyment but also a fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes. This principle remains relevant today: all that we have—materially, intellectually, and spiritually—is ultimately a gift from God (James 1:17). Remembering God in prosperity means using His blessings to honor Him, rather than falling into the idolatry of self-reliance. Jesus echoes this principle in the New Testament, teaching that wealth should not be stored up selfishly (Matt. 6:19-21) but used in service to God's kingdom. Thus, Deuteronomy 8:18 serves as a timeless reminder that true security is found not in wealth itself, but in the God who graciously provides it.

IN his book Thee Extent of Original Sin in Every Faculty of the Soul, Anthony Burgess says of this passage:

"In Deuteronomy 8:18, Moses warns the people of Israel not to trust in their own righteousness or attribute their wealth and success to their own power. Instead, he commands them: "You shall remember the Lord your God," emphasizing that true blessing and prosperity come from Him alone. Just as light and darkness cannot exist together, so too cannot a genuine remembrance of God and a heart filled with self-reliance. If an ambitious or pleasure-seeking person were to truly remember God, it would strike his soul like thunder and lightning, immediately stopping him in his sinful pursuits and leading him to repentance."