在1919年1月15日，美國波士頓某間公司的一座巨型糖蜜儲存槽發生大爆炸，超過870萬公升的糖蜜傾洩而出，形成約4公尺高的糖蜜浪潮，以超過56公里的時速沖向街道，摧毀了鐵路和多棟建築物，並造成多人死傷，以及大量馬匹和動物死亡。這原本看似毫無殺傷力的糖蜜，在那天卻成為致命的災難，導致21人喪生，超過150人受傷。

有時候，即使是像糖蜜這樣的美好事物，也會帶給我們意想不到的危害。在以色列百姓即將進入上帝賜給他們的應許之地時，摩西警告他們，不要以為得到這一切美好的事物，都是自己的功勞，並勸勉百姓應小心謹慎：「恐怕你吃得飽足，建造美好的房屋居住，你的牛羊加多，你的金銀增添，⋯⋯你就心高氣傲，忘記耶和華你的上帝」（申命記8章12-14節）。摩西警誡他們，不要將發家致富歸功於自己的力量或才能，而是「要記念耶和華你的上帝，因為得貨財的力量是祂給你的」（17-18節）。

一切美好的事物，包括身體的健康和謀生的技能，都是上帝恩手賜下的恩福，即使我們能夠努力工作，也是因為祂扶持我們。讓我們謹記上帝是一切恩福的源頭，坦然領受祂所賜的福分，並感謝讚美祂對我們的恩慈！

On January 15, 1919, a huge molasses tank burst in Boston. A fifteen-foot wave of more than two million gallons of molasses careened through the street at over 30 mph, sweeping away railcars, buildings, people, and animals. Molasses might seem harmless enough, but that day it was deadly: 21 people lost their lives with more than 150 injured.

Sometimes even good things—like molasses—can overwhelm us unexpectedly. Before the Israelites entered the land God promised them, Moses  warned the people to be careful not to take credit for the good things they’d receive: “When you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase . . . , then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God.” They weren’t to attribute this wealth to their own strength or capabilities. Instead, Moses said, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:12–14, 17–18).  

All good things—including physical health and the skills needed to earn a living—are blessings from the hand of our loving God. Even when we’ve worked hard, it’s He who sustains us. Oh, to hold our blessings with open hands, that we may gratefully praise God for His kindness to us!