Striking A Healthy Balance

     “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’  Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

Proverbs 30:7-9

     What was Agur thinking when he wrote this request?  I mean, God is supposed to provide His children with all of the niceties of life as long as we do what He says.  Right?  Financial troubles, health problems, ruined relationships - they all happen when we aren’t living right.  Faithful Christians don’t have to “settle” for “just enough”.  That shows a lack of faith.  Right?

     Actually Agur was speaking from hindsight.  Moses had warned the Israelites of the danger of forgetting God when they entered Canaan and began to get busy with their lives (see Deuteronomy 6:10-12).  Their blessings and subsequent wealth drew their attention away from the Lord and onto themselves.  And they turned from God toward idols and were eventually punished - severely. 

     Agur’s words are true for any period of time; especially in our materialistic society.  Look carefully at what he is asking.  We easily understand wanting to keep falsehood and lies far from us.  Sin keeps us from our Father and sends us down the road to ruin.  But do we truly appreciate the need to have balance with our earthly riches?  Do we comprehend the danger of striving for wealth?  Do we remember the words of Jesus concerning how difficult it is for rich people to enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 19:23-24)?

     Agur was thinking right when he asked to be in the middle.  He understood that arrogance was a possibility when a person has too much.  This attitude excludes God from our lives.  And we can’t afford for that to happen.  He also knew that fear and desperation accompanied poverty.  This mindset focuses on self and leads to other, more shameful actions.  We don’t want to dishonor God that way either. 

     To be holy means that we need to strive to be happy with what God brings our way; regardless of what we think we deserve.  And all we really need is His grace (of which we have a sufficient abundance: 2 Corinthians 12:9).  So if He blesses you with more (which He does all day, every day), be grateful.

Doug