This chapter keeps mentioning the failure of the generation. Not that the previous generation was a whole lot better, but it makes me think about my generation and those after which I've seen a lot of articles about how much lower the % of Christian retention is. Not sure if God deals with us in that way still, actually I guess he doesn't as we just read in Hebrews. Piggybacking on BJ's post... I always wonder about prosperity of America as I know its commonly accepted God blessed us. I found several articles like this one... http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/11/15/the_curious_economic_effects_of_religion/ which don't necessarily ascribe God as blessing us but at least ascribe the principles of faith as a driver of economic growth. Interesting either way.

All good points. I don't think the article really had much to do with real faith, but certainly the Bible influences are culture and values in ways it may not have been designed to. The author merely merits the Bible for entrenching financial sense into the roots of American values (true or not). Seems like most of the time I hear that parable being not necessarily obedience but use of our spiritual gifts though both make sense to me. I am unclear though on your last paragraph, are you saying that financial blessing is directly linked to obedience to Christ? Or are you just saying we can't know so there's no point arguing.