“Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion.
Lest I be full and deny thee and say, “who is the LORD?”
Or lest I be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8b-9, NASB
As I read this passage it reminded me of a familiar verse in the New Testament: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). God wants us to depend on Him for our daily bread, or portion, as the writer of Proverbs states. We are not to lose our focus — neither on who God is or that He is the One who provides for us. Our relationship with Him is the most important part of our lives. It can be put to the test if we don’t have enough basic resources, or if we have more than enough.
But how much is enough? There is a stark contrast between the sense of “enough” in this passage and the world we live in, which bombards us on every side with its values: eat more, get more, want more, you deserve more.
Perhaps we need to reevaluate our priorities instead and keep our eyes focused on the Lord our God. What is taking up your energy and time? What averts your eyes from your relationship with God?
Is it worth getting more at the cost of friends, family, and faith? Or do we need to concentrate more on choosing to be content with less and not comparing ourselves with those around us?
Father, thank You that You not only meet my needs, but give me more than enough! Help me know how to be content with the situation and circumstances I find myself in as I trust You for my daily portion. Amen.
Take Action
Are you content with your circumstances today? Or are you always wishing for something more, something different, or another season of life? This week, work on being content by giving thanks for three things every day.
Further reading: Rejoicing: a Supernatural Tool
