A FORGOTTEN PRAYER

Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV)[7] “Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:

[8] Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

[9] 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.

A forgotten prayer, in the midst of a world that bases satisfaction and success with riches, material things and fame. Many Christians are blinded by what the world shows us, which is why this prayer in Proverbs 30 is so important for us to have in our hearts.

God reminded the Israelites when they left Egypt that “man does not live on bread alone but on every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deu 8:3), and were to be content with manna from God. Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray “give us this day our daily bread” (Mat 6:11). The apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, told him that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6). It’s all over God’s Word.

And yet we run after them - money, riches, material gain and fame. And we lie and deceive to get them. We seek our satisfaction, peace and joy in these things. We even ask God to provide for these things that take His place in our hearts.

A man who is truly satisfied with God and His Word does not have it in his heart to disown God or dishonor His name just to have the things of this world. We are moved by God, just like the author in Proverbs 30, to seek just what we need.

May God’s grace keep us content, and satisfied in Him.