Blessed with Just Enough

Scripture: O God, I beg two favors from you before I die: First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs! Proverbs 30:7-8

Observation: In this passage, the writer (Agur) asks for two things from the Lord. The first is spiritual repentance from lying, and the second is simply a comfortable life that will also put him in a position to remain faithful to the Lord's laws.

Wisdom is, then, reliance upon the Lord. We rely upon him for both justice and mercy. Since we rely upon justice, a wise person understands the benefits of avoiding sin and desires strength from the Holy Spirit to accomplish this. Since we rely on mercy, a wise person asks only for their basic needs to be fulfilled, so that they never feel proud of their own success, nor envious of others due to wanting more. It is this "just enough" condition that is ideal ... the goldilocks of blessing, if you will, is that we are comfortable but not rich. In this way, we continue to need daily blessing, but also continue to recognize that we receive such blessing, and thus can worship and honor the Lord more and more.

Application: Yesterday, my wife and I looked at a "dream house". It was ... 8 bedrooms, 20,000 square feet, with pools and grottos and fireplaces and ... everything, with even its own 60 acres of vineyard. Of course, it was more than we could ever hope to afford. We just looked at it online, for fun, and both even independently said to God that we knew it wouldn't even be good for us if we could afford such a place (and we absolutely can't).

I live in a great home, in a great location, near great friends, with everything I could ever need on a daily basis. And I know it is all from the Lord. There is no doubt in my mind that I have little to do with my day-to-day success in providing for myself and my family. Yet every day, the Lord provides.

I am comfortable. I have no need to pursue more. I praise God that I do not have less. And following he example of Agur, I can absolutely say that I ask the Lord for just this ... neither poverty nor riches. I have enough, and my needs are met. May I use it all to honor the Lord, and bless others as his will desires.

Prayer: Lord, you have blessed me beyond my hopes and dreams. I hope I in turn am a blessing to others. This day, please provide enough, and only enough. If you give us more, may you also show us where we should send that surplus to. Amen.