It’s easy to look at our lives and see only good things. We have roofs over our heads, food in our pantries, and perhaps a little extra for a coffee or a night out. Compared to much of the world, even the simplest Western lifestyle is one of astonishing wealth. But here’s a question we don’t often ask: Could our very abundance be keeping us from God?
In the book of Joel, the prophet speaks to a people who had plenty—until they didn’t. A swarm of locusts had devastated their land, stripping fields and vineyards bare. Yet the people’s hearts remained hard. They saw the destruction but didn’t understand why it had come. As John Calvin noted, they were “severely smitten by God” but did not feel their own spiritual emptiness.
This is a warning for us today. When life is comfortable, we can easily become complacent. Our blessings can become blinders, making us forget our need for the One who provides them all.
What Locusts Teach Us About Our Hearts
Locusts might seem like an ancient problem, but their lesson is timeless. In Joel 1, the locusts are described as an army—unstoppable, methodical, and devastating. They didn’t just destroy crops; they stole joy. “The fields are ruined, the ground mourns… the wine dries up, the olive oil fails” (Joel 1:10, NIV). Yet God’s purpose was not mere punishment. He wanted His people’s full attention.
When we have everything we need, we rarely pause to consider our spiritual state. We fill our lives with work, entertainment, and relationships, all good things, but we can use them to avoid God. The locusts—whether literal or metaphorical—strip away the distractions so we can see what truly matters.
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:12, NIV)
This call to return is not for the desperate alone. It’s for everyone who has grown comfortable and distant. For those of us in the West, our “locusts” might not be insects but financial loss, health crises, or relational brokenness. These trials can be God’s loving way of waking us up.
Gratitude That Goes Deeper
Giving thanks for our abundance is good—Scripture commands it. But true gratitude goes beyond counting blessings. It recognizes that everything we have is a gift, and it keeps our hearts soft toward God and others.
Consider the warning in Deuteronomy 8. After describing the Promised Land as a place of abundance, Moses cautions: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10-11, NIV). Forgetting leads to pride, and pride leads to ruin.
So how do we stay grateful without becoming complacent? Here are a few practices:
- Daily acknowledgment: Start each day by thanking God for one specific provision, big or small.
- Generous giving: Share your abundance with those in need, whether through your local church or a trusted ministry.
- Regular reflection: Set aside time each week to examine your heart. Are you relying on God or on your resources?
A Heart That Returns
The good news is that God doesn’t leave us in our blindness. He sends warnings, big and small, to call us back. Joel’s message ends with hope: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” (Joel 2:25, NIV). Even our failures and seasons of spiritual drought can be redeemed.
Take a moment to consider: What in your life might be a “locust” sent to get your attention? A difficult relationship? A financial setback? A sense of emptiness despite having everything? Instead of resenting it, ask God what He wants to teach you. He may be inviting you into a deeper faith—one that trusts Him not just for blessings, but for life itself.
Reflection question: If God were to remove one comfort from your life to get your attention, what would it be? And how can you turn to Him now, before the locusts come?
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