In this Proverb, there are two things that the author is asking for. First, he asks God to protect him from the temptation of lying. It is so easy to justify what we call "white lies", but the truth is, a lie is a lie. As Christians, we must strive to be truthful and honest with all things. If we prove to be honest with the little things, those we are trying to reach out to will find us honest with the bigger things. Trustworthiness will open doors to sharing the Gospel.
Second, the author asks that God doesn't give him too much wealth nor give him too little so that he is not poor. This is a concept that we as Christians need to consider. Much of the time we spend in prayer is spent asking God for "stuff". Most of which, we do not truly need. Being rich can hinder us from a healthy relationship with Christ because we become comfortable in our wealth and do not feel we need to rely one God. On the other hand, being poor can be a hinderance as well because we are so uncomfortable with our situation that we can make bad decisions in order to find that comfort. We need to be content with what the Lord has given us. I hope that this Proverb becomes your prayer as it has become mine.
Food for Thought:
1.How would your relationship with Christ grow if you were content with the things that He has blessed you with?
2. What is the difference between a "need" and a "want"?
3. Is there anything going on in your life that is a distraction to your walk with Christ? What are they?
4. Read through this Proverb again and offer up to God a similar prayer in your own words. Allow God to bring you contentment.
