Proverbs 30:7-9, Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God. I love this Scripture. If one could only ask for two things from God for life, these would be two pretty good things to ask. In essence, to me the writer is asking for two characteristics for his life--honest, and simplicity. Removing falsehood far from me indicates a dual action--take it OUT of me, and take it AWAY from me. In a society and culture that is 1) false, and 2) worships the false, a life separated from all things dishonest looks pretty good to me. But the second request is the one that really intrigues me. The writer is asking for a life circumstance between two extremes--poverty and riches. Now, this Scripture seems to address money, but contains a broader principle that applies to all the circumstances of life. We tend to wish for the positive extreme in all areas--resources, happiness, well-being, entertainment, success, etc. But you have doubtless observed that, though we delude ourselves to think otherwise, enough is never enough; and contentment is as difficult for the endowed as it is for the wanting. For the most blessed of us, REAL LIFE HAPPENS IN THE MIDDLE. This truth is important because the positive end of the spectrum tends to lead us toward our independent, prideful flesh; while, the negative extreme tends to drive us toward dark desperation, bitterness, and a life consumed with wishing. But for the student of life--that is one who is always being instructed by circumstance--contentment is found, if at all, somewhere between the sublime and the ridiculous.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 13:57:43 +0000
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