Proverbs 30:7-9
Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for 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.
Here, Solomon will teach the reader a lesson about how to achieve godly contentment. The lesson is a simple one and should already be known and practiced among the followers of Christ. The man of great wisdom simply prays that God would help him to be satisfied with “what is needful" for him.
Looking at the prayer, Solomon makes two specific requests. The first is that God would remove “falsehood and lying.” Matthew Henry suggests that this is a prayer similar to how Christ taught his disciples to pray that God would lead us not into temptation. A request that God would keep him from sin and the damage that it brings. When believers are found in the arms of this world, contentment will not be found. Wisdom teaches Christs’ people to pray that God would deliver from the vanity of this world.
Secondly, the son of David asks for only what is needful for him. For the most part, this is not the attitude of our society today. Most people seem to want riches more than they long for spiritual happiness. This prayer is prayed from the King of Israel! This is proof given that happiness and contentment can be found outside of personal gain and having great possessions.
Great wealth can often lead to the person taking the credit for accomplishments that belong to The Lord.
Solomon offers reasons for His request. First, he explains that having plenty would turn him away from God. Great wealth can often lead to the person taking the credit for accomplishments that belong to The Lord. Solomon was the man He was because of God's goodness to him. The king recognized this and did not want to deny The Lord for the goodness God had shown him.
The word deny is to withhold or keep back. Denying God can be not giving to Him the glory he deserves. Christians should be prayerful that in success, God always get the glory.
On the other hand, this great man does not want to live on the end of poverty. He fears that if that were the life given to him that he would turn to a life of sin. This too would harm the image of a believer and profane the name of God.
To achieve a life of contentment, Solomon did not want too much or too little. He wants enough for his daily provision. Believer, Christ is enough! Over and over, scripture teaches this valuable lesson. If you want to be satisfied with Christ alone, do as the man of wisdom did, ask.
In HIS service,
Pastor Richie Honeycutt
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