A Wise Prayer

The Road of the Wise

Imasdali A.0;k Mu

Imasdovnin Jampan

Proverbs 30:7-9

This is the fifth sermon in our journey through Proverbs, the Book of Wisdom. Last week we were learning about the wisdom of God for our marriages. I hope some of you were able talk to each other about the issues I raised. I hope the sermon helped you come closer to God and towards each other.

We move on to talk about work-money-finances, in other words, “our daily bread.”

In the whole Book of Proverbs we find one single prayer, and this is it:

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me…” (30:7-8)

This is a wise prayer. It deals with two simple requests:

- A defense against deception and falsehood

- A healthy attitude towards money

We touched on this issue of money slightly in the third sermon of the series, when we found out that trusting God meant trusting Him in all aspects of our lives, including our finances.

In the New Testament we find 500 verses about prayer, 400 verses about faith, and over 2000 verses about money and money management.  Jesus told 38 parables, 16 of which are somehow related with finances.

I look back to my years of ministry, and I realize that most of the time the root of many conflicts people face in their marriages and families had to do with finances. I have tried to reconcile family members who have hated each other for generations all because of inheritance issues. Economy and financial management are important aspects of our lives. The problem starts when money and possessions get out of control; instead of us handling them, they handle us. This is a big problem!

Two wishes about personal finances: no poverty, and no excess richness.

No to poverty.

Who wants to be poor? No one. In my ministry in the Middle East, I have seen how poverty made the lives of people miserable. Basic necessities, like good nutrition and healthcare, were hardly available for some families. As a pastor, my role was often to write letters to the hospitals and make arrangements to accept people who could not afford it. Finding money for people to buy medicine from the pharmacy. Or, during the war, my van was full of food to distribute to families who could not afford essential groceries.

These days, even in the USA, things are becoming more and more difficult for all of us. Some are laid off from work, some who cannot pay their mortgages, some do not know what next day’s surprise is going to be. More layoffs?

Our author Agur, son of Jakeh, which could be nickname for King Solomon, is praying to God and urging Him not to make him poor. Why?

He answer: “…lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (vs 9b)

Being poor is a relative concept. In some countries a farmer who has three cows will be considered a rich man, one who has two will be considered middle class, and if you have no cows you are poor. In Kansas, three cows definitely means poverty. Therefore poverty is relative word.

If I believe myself that I don’t have enough, I will be tempted to steal and cheat, I will become jealous, I will lie and become resentful and angry. This is how poverty can own us. It is not about what you have; it is about your attitude towards what you have.

We will continue in English.