One of the greatest deceptions in our faith journey is the perils that come with having abundance. Both the Old and New Testaments are full of passages warning us of the pitfalls of self-sufficiency.Proverbs 30 provides us with a good summary of what the Bible teaches us about money and possessions.
Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV) keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 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.
In this passage, the wisdom writer makes two requests – to be protected from deception and to be provided only what is sufficient for his daily needs. The connection the writer makes between deception and self-sufficiency is quite significant. In his prayer for contentment in what has been allotted to him, the writer identifies two possible deceptions that are faced when one is either in poverty or in wealth.
The deception of poverty
“I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Poverty deceives a person into thinking that they have no other options apart from taking measures into their own hands and acquiring their needs through illegal activity. Poverty deceives us into believing that our needs justify the means of obtaining it, even if they contradict Biblical principals.
Poverty says, “God won’t help me; I must help myself.”
The deception of wealth
“I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?”
Being in the position of wealth carries with it the danger of another form of deception. Along with wealth comes an abundance of options. Being in a position where one is presented with numerous options and possibilities, God can become an unnecessary restriction to someone spoilt for choice. It becomes burdensome to seek God’s best when I have all I need to pursue what’s best for me.
Wealth says, “God does not need to help me; I can help myself.”
Proverbs 30:8-9 is a prayer to remove all the earthly facades that the world says we need. When we pray this prayer, we are seeking to rid ourselves of the deception of poverty with it’s enticement to be free from Divine rule, and the deception of wealth with it’s enticement to be free from Divine accountability.
When we pray this prayer, what we are really praying for is our “daily bread”. We are praying to be content with being sufficient for today. It us a prayer that keeps us in this narrow path of truth – free from the deception that comes when in want or in abundance.
In a world where wealth has been equated to prosperity and happiness, it is so important for us as believers to embrace the Christian life promoted and lived by the great apostle Paul.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.