A Simple Prayer of Two Requests

Jan 18

Jan 18 A Simple Prayer of Two Requests

Proverbs Devo, God's Word, Personal Faith, Wisdom

A Futile Pursuit

Let’s face it. We want everything. But we can’t have it all. It’s not humanly possible.

Even though our consumer-driven culture tells us we can have it all “our way,” it’s a delusion. It also leads to self-destructive behavior and emptiness.

Scores and scores of people in every generation find this out the hard way. Either they lose every person of real value in their life, or lose what they pursued, or both. As Jesus declared to His followers–

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Matt 16:26a)

This is the primary message of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. He truly had it all—wealth, women (way too many), wisdom, and worldwide fame. But his stated theme throughout Ecclesiastes is—

“Absolutely pointless!” says the spokesman. “Absolutely pointless! Everything is pointless.” What do people gain from all their hard work under the sun? (Eccl 1:2-3 GW)

It captures the sense of emptiness that arises from seeking everything this world can give. It’s a futile pursuit.

The Book of Proverbs, as with other books in the Bible, is written memorably—so people can memorize and retain general truths. This was vital for people who didn’t have the privilege to read and write because they were oral learners.

This is why numbering and lists are prominent, along with repetitive phrases. Contrasts and comparisons are used to make helpful distinctions. And, of course, lots of figurative language is used to describe conceptual and spiritual truths in more familiar images and pictures.

A more fulfilling pursuit is to seek simplicity and contentment in life. That’s an attainable pursuit. The following prayerful appeal from Proverbs 30 sums it up.

Scripture

I’ve asked you for two things. Don’t keep them from me before I die:
Keep vanity and lies far away from me. Don’t give me either poverty or riches.
Feed me only the food I need, or I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal and give the name of my God a bad reputation. (Proverbs 30:7-9 GW)

(Context— (Proverbs 30:1-9 GW)y

Proverbs 30

Simple Insights

These three verses from Proverbs 30 are a request for two things and are expressed as a prayer. The first request relates to character, and the second concerns day-to-day life.

Integrity of character is at the heart of the first request—the removal of what’s not true from our lives. When the writer says keep vanity…far away from me, it speaks of self-deception. Self-deception is the fertile soil where arrogance and foolishness grow.

The request isn’t restricted to the lies we believe or tell ourselves. It’s an appeal for protection from the lies and deception of others. If we want integrity of character, we need to guard our hearts from what is not true—whatever its source.

The second request of this prayer focuses on contentment in daily life—something most everyone longs for but so often remains elusive. The author asks for God’s provision someplace between two extremes—poverty or riches—and then explains why.

The concern is that having too much in the way of riches may lead to ignoring the Lord—I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Another way to say this is, “I’ve got all I need and more. Who needs the Lord?”

Keep in mind that these proverbs were intended for people whose identity was tied to their relationship with God.

The concern with being poor and not having enough is, that this may lead to stealing. This would dishonor God. The author realizes how our life example—how we act and what we do in daily life—reflects on the Lord, too.

It’s a simple prayer—just two things are requested. It’s simple and worthy enough to be a daily prayer. The question is—Is it your and my prayer?

Reflection—

Having integrity of character—what’s inside our hearts and minds, as well as how we live in the real world—will always honor the Lord. Also, simplicity can lead to a contented life.