Proverbs 30:8-9 says,
Keep deception and lies far from me, 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.
*Emphasis, in bold, is mine
I doubt many people pray that prayer. Many people pray for wealth. Many people believe wholeheartedly that they can love God, while at the same time being wealthy. However, it is foolish for us to think that we are capable of loving God in the midst of great wealth. Is it possible? Yes, by God’s grace, absolutely. Is it guaranteed? Absolutely not. And many people reading that will cling to the possibility and give themselves the benefit of the doubt about their likelihood of falling into idolatry (Come on, didn’t you give yourself the benefit of the doubt when you read that?).
Jesus said, in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Likewise, 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Proverbs is a book of wisdom, and Proverbs 30:8-9 is so striking. It is sadly self-evident that when the Lord provides for His people, we are quick to forget Him because we have everything we need. One need look no further than the example of Israel in the Old Testament; and for a modern-day example one need look no further, sadly, than the spiritual state of the people of the United States of America. We have so many provisions from the Lord that we have fallen into idolatry, decadence, and rebellious wickedness. But when you look to Christian people who have only the daily bread that God provides, you find people of great faith; people who rely on the Lord and devote their lives entirely to Him. When we are hungry and have no God-given means of providing for ourselves, we rely heavily on God’s daily provisions. When God has provided for us for years, we often sinfully forget Him, relying on “our” accomplishments.
How do you pray in regard to your finances and accomplishments? Do you pray at all, or have you fallen into the trap of having received so much from the Lord’s graciousness that you feel self-made and self-sufficient? Do you tithe, or has your heart attached itself to “your” money?
Or, do you recognize that everything you have comes from the Lord? That apart from Him you would have nothing and you could earn nothing. That, if not for His choosing of where you were born, you might work harder than anyone you have ever met, having double the intelligence and strength you have now, but still never have the opportunity to accumulate any substantial wealth or goods? Do you recognize that more important than financial security is God’s provision for you?
Are you able to pray for success, but that that success only be the success that God – in His omniscient love – wills for you to have?
May God bless you, and may God help us all to trust in Him, to love Him, and to devote ourselves entirely to Him.
Chase Thompson 