…Give me neither
poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be
full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in
want and steal, And profane the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7b,8-9)
In the first part of his prayer Agur's (aw-goor) request was
for falsehood and lies to be removed from him. Perhaps one of the greatest falsehoods to be
confronted with is the pursuit of money as a means of life's satisfaction.
Americans today are obsessed with the desire to have more,
bigger, better, newest model, latest fad.
The media crams it down our throats and fills our children’s head with
all sorts of “things” they should have. Materialism
… the excessive desire for worldly things … is a strong persuasion. Materialism eats at the very core of all of
us … for there is not a one of us who doesn't long to have more rather than
less.
Agur was smart to ask God for neither riches nor
poverty. He knew that if he had riches
he might neglect God and his relationship with him. Likewise he knew if he were
desperately poor, he might turn to sin for relief.
Do Not Give Me
Agur's request of God to not give him poverty is common … no one really wants to be poor. But his request for God to not give him riches is most unheard of … and truly "Un-American." But there is more here than meets the eye and heart.
Agur's request of God to not give him poverty is common … no one really wants to be poor. But his request for God to not give him riches is most unheard of … and truly "Un-American." But there is more here than meets the eye and heart.
·
Do Not Give Me Poverty Agur had a reason behind not wanting to be poor … and it
wasn't the "Jones" next door. Reason:
lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of God…Now that is being honest! Agur was admitting that there is a vainness
about being poor. Poverty can force a man into the sin of
stealing … and ultimately profane the name of God … who is seen as the
Giver. Proverbs 13:18 says Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But
he who regards a rebuke will be honored. Therefore serve God
in what you have. Proverbs 11:28 NLT
Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in
spring.
Proverbs 11:4 says Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But
righteousness delivers from death. I believe Agur was asking to live a balanced
life … not too little and not too much … with God at the center. Can we pray in this day for God to give us neither
poverty nor riches, but rather a middle of the road walk with God? We need the sense to not have an affixation for what we do not have. Do not live life by the thought, “I
wish I had.” Is God enough for
you? Enough that you can pray … do not
give me poverty or riches so that my life is satisfied with what You give me
for You know what is best for me? It is
hard to let go and trust God but that is where the true blessing lies.
Scripture to Claim:
Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Proverbs 11:28 NLT
Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring. Proverbs 11:28 NLT
