| GIVE US THIS DAY |
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30:7 Two [things] have I required of thee; deny me [them] not before I die: 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain]. WELL, THE BIG LOTTERY WAS WON RECENTLY, OVER 300 MILLION DOLLARS TO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN TWO WINNERS. I WAS NOT ONE BECAUSE I DO NOT PLAY. I HAVE THOUGH WONDERED WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY. OF COURSE FIRST WOULD COME MY TITHES, AND OF COURSE MISSIONS, MONEY FOR MY DAUGHTER'S COLLEGE EDUCATION, AND SON AND SO FORTH.
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SOME PEOPLE TO ACCUMULATE GREAT WEALTH AND NOT OTHERS? ACCORDING TO PROVERBS 30, AGUR HAD TWO THINGS HE REQUIRED FROM GOD. FIRST, HE ASKED THAT VANITY AND LIES BE REMOVED FAR FROM HIM. SECONDLY HE ASKED TO LIVE IN NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES, BUT ONLY THAT GOD WOULD FEED HIM WITH FOOD THAT WAS CONVENIENT FOR HIM. THAT REMINDED ME OF THE MODEL PRAYER, OFTEN CALLED THE LORD'S PRAYER. "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD"(MATTHEW 6:11).
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST. I BELIEVE GOD KNOWS THAT IF I HAD GREAT WEALTH I MIGHT TURN AWAY FROM NEEDING HIM. AGUR MUST HAVE FELT THE SAME WAY, FOR HE SAID, "LEST I BE FULL, AND DENY THEE, AND SAY, WHO IS THE LORD? OR LEST I BE POOR, AND STEAL, AND TAKE THE NAME OF MY GOD IN VAIN." PAULHAD IT RIGHT WHEN HE SAID,"...I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT" (PHILIPPIANS 4:11).
GOD KNOWS WHAT WE NEED, AND MAY WE ALWAYS BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE.
BY PASTOR DAVE PETERS, COLONIAL HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA. |
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