Proverbs 30:9
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Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
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Both prosperity and poverty are dangerous. Riches lead to self-confidence and security, which cause a man to forget the LORD. Destitution leads to desperation, which causes a man to consider stealing and reproaching the LORD's name. A wise man will ask for a moderate portion of success to avoid both of these dangers. Lord, give us such wisdom!
This verse explains Agur's sober prayer for two things in life (30:7-9). He asks first for salvation from sin - vanity and lies; then he asks for convenient food - neither poverty nor riches. Here is a wise man's careful reflection on what he needs in life! And he begs God for them. He has learned the spiritual wisdom that moderate success is just right!
He fears only one thing - sin! He does not fear the troubles of riches, or the difficulty and shame of poverty. He fears them both for the temptations to sin they create! Here is practical holiness that should convict and provoke our spirits. The name and service of the LORD is his primary concern to be delivered from both extremes. His relationship with God is of much greater concern than any economic condition. Lord, help us!
Only fools think riches would help them serve God. All the evidence refutes it. Pharaoh was the richest man of his generation, but he literally said, "Who is the LORD?" When God blessed Israel, they rebelled and forgot Him. "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation" (Deut 32:15).
Riches are a horrible temptation and often a curse to men who fear God and love holiness (Deut 6:10-12; 8:10-14; 31:20; Neh 9:25-26; Job 31:24-28). Jesus plainly warned about the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choking out the Word (Matt 13:22).
The rich young ruler turned away from Jesus, when faced with choosing his money or the Lord (Matt 19:16-22). What a horrible exchange! Jesus said a camel could go through the eye of a needle before a rich man could enter the kingdom (Matt 19:23-24). Lord, teach us hatred for success and riches, to love and follow Jesus Christ without temptations.
We have economic lives. But when we must buy, we should treat it as if we had nothing; when we must use the financial world, we should soberly limit the use (I Cor 7:29-31). Our goal is to be without carefulness to better please the Lord (I Cor 7:32). We cannot serve two masters, so the goal of being a rich Christian is folly (Matt 6:24; I Tim 6:6-10).
True success is godliness with contentment (I Tim 6:6). Learn it! A contented man is always happier than a rich man! And he doesn't have the worries! If the Lord promised to be with us, we should be content with anything (Heb 13:5). With Him as our Portion forever, there is nothing in earth or heaven to attract us (Ps 73:25-26). It was this blessed contentment Paul learned by Christ's strength for all his circumstances (Phil 4:11-13).
Are you content with necessities? Jacob prayed for food and raiment (Gen 28:20-22). Jesus taught us to pray for our daily bread (Matt 6:11). And Paul encouraged Timothy to be content with food and raiment (I Tim 6:8). It is the wise man that does not seek riches who may be blessed with them (I Kgs 3:10-13)! Ah, Lord God, Thou art very great!
Don't think for a moment you have given up much, as Peter once did! For Jesus promised to return 10,000% in this world, and eternal life in the world to come (Mark 10:28-31)! Now that is an exchange with which to live and die! The rich young ruler was a loser!
Poverty is hardly a consideration in our nation. But we also want the Lord to save us from that side of the economic coin, lest we despair, or are tempted to sin to provide our needs. Oaths were often used to extract confessions from suspects, including thieves, thus our proverb's words (Ex 22:10-12; Lev 5:1; I Kgs 8:31-32). See the comments on 29:24.
With sufficient means for subsistence, there are fewer temptations to steal, covet, deny the poor, neglect giving, or other financial sins that reproach the LORD. It is wisdom to pray for a minimum of mercy to keep the righteous from temptation (Ps 125:3).
Dear reader, consider the spiritual weight of his prayer. Many pray against poverty! But few pray against prosperity! Is it possible in this age of greed and covetousness for a man to pray against poverty ... and prosperity? Is your affection on things above (Col 3:2)? Or do you yet mind earthly things (Phil 3:18-19)? Can your soul make the prayer sincerely?
A wise man is willing to sell all that He has to buy the spiritual treasures of Christ (Matt 13:44-46). He perceives the exchange is entirely in His favor! The world loses, by taking the cursed riches off his hands! He gains his soul in the trade (Matt 16:26)! He wins, by obtaining the true riches of glory, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27)!
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