The Beast of Plenty — When the riches of abundance become a lie.
One of the earliest beasts Albert and Charles encounter in The Sword of Truth is not a creature of terror, violence, or open rebellion. It is something far more familiar.
The Beast of Plenty appears in the Golden Bazaar, within the City of Plenty — a place of comfort, prosperity, and success. Its city is never hungry; it is bloated and full. Its people seem to lack nothing. Life there appears ordered, secure, even admirable. And yet, something is very wrong. A Different Kind of Danger lurks.
Most stories train us to expect evil to look monstrous — sharp teeth, dark intentions, open hostility. But the Beast of Plenty does not threaten with fear. It tempts through abundance. Of course, I want the reader to see in their mind's eye what the beast looks like and represents.
It is bloated, glittering, and well-fed — sustained by greed, want and excess. It does not attack truth directly; it frames it to make it seem as if overindulgence is good.
The quiet assumption it feeds on is simple: If I have a lot, I am blessed and good. Prosperity becomes proof. Comfort becomes confirmation. Success becomes authority. When Blessing Replaces Obedience The Beast of Plenty represents a subtle and dangerous lie — riches and success show I am good and worthy.
“If my life is comfortable, then I must already be faithful.”
“If I am successful, then obedience must already be fulfilled.”
“If everything is going well, why question anything?”
“If I have all I need then Shorly God is happy with me.”
“Look at what I have, I am a good person.”
In this way, blessing replaces obedience and replaces truth. The City of Plenty does not deny the King outright. It simply no longer needs Him when wealth and plenty is enough. His voice grows quieter when the tables are full.
Why This Beast Matters
This beast does not shout and is not loud. It reassures. It whispers that faith is unnecessary when life is good. That obedience can wait. That truth is flexible when comfort is stable. This is why the Beast of Plenty appears early in The Sword of Truth. Before darker roads walked. Before suffering comes and takes everything away. Before fear forces Albert and Charles to be honest with themselves. Because many never leave the City of Plenty. They never feel threatened enough to seek deeper truth.
An Invitation to Reflect
The Beast of Plenty is not an argument against success or provision. It is a warning about what happens when blessing becomes the goal instead of the gift.
The danger is not having much. The danger is trusting in much over truth. What do we cling to when life is comfortable? What do we listen to when nothing seems wrong? These are quiet questions. And often the most important ones.
Scripture Reflection
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
— Luke 12:15
“You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
— Revelation 3:17
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
— Matthew 4:4
Blessing is not wrong, it is good when we give glory back to God. We must not neglect Gods word when things are good, blessing was never meant to replace truth.
The Beast of Plenty asks a searching question — one we should reflect on:
When everything is good, whom do you trust?
Written by
Daniel J.York—author of The Sword Of Truth An Allegory About Recovering Truth
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