Because of their Ease

The chapter heading to Helaman 12 says, "Men are unstable and foolish and quick to do evil...".

Verse 1 says, "And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him."

Then we read about the pride cycle in verse 2. "Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity."

Several things caught my attention in these two verses. The one that I want to talk about right now is "because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity" at the end of verse 2.

The part about "ease" makes me think about my career and that I'm about to switch jobs again. I want to put the Lord first and don't want to be greedy, though I'm not going to leave opportunities on the table no matter what form they are in. I just need to focus on keeping the Lord first and not forget him because of the many opportunities that are coming my way. I know they are coming because He is leading me along a path. I hope I never lose sight of that. I thank Him every day for giving me what he has already given me so that I can keep Him in mind and not start thinking that I'm getting any of this myself.

What are you grateful for? Have you thanked the Lord for it?