READING: Proverbs 30-31, Galatians 2
Not surprisingly, the writer of Proverbs is just wise about life. In today’s reading, we find this simple request that I frankly have not often considered: “Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God” (Prov 30:8-9).
Here, the writer requests that God simply meet his needs, not giving him too much or providing too little. If God did the former, the writer might have seen little need for God. If He did the latter, though, the writer might have shamed the name of God by stealing. Thus, he might have taken God’s blessings for granted if he had much, or he might have distrusted God’s care if he had little. Either way is hardly wise.
Maybe we would not quickly deny our need for God, nor would we quickly move to stealing—but we are guilty at times of the attitudes reflected by these actions. Our blessings can become a distraction from our dependence on God, or our poverty can rob us of our trust of Him. To put it another way, our response shows that either we don’t need God or we believe He doesn’t love us.
Perhaps we should just be grateful for all He’s given us.
PRAYER: “Thank You, Lord, for meeting my needs.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: If you are experiencing today either of the attitudes described in today’s text, confess it to God.
TOMORROW’S READING: Weekend is for catch-up and review
MONDAY’S READING: Ecclesiastes 1-7, Galatians 3:1-4:7