Proverbs 30:7-9 (NKJV) Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.
I read this passage the other day and it really struck me. I pondered on it and upon that contemplation was heaped conviction. “I don’t pray for that”, I thought. In fact I’ve never prayed for that. More often than not, I pray for extreme favor and over abundance.
One of the men in my Iron Men group offered an observation the other day. He wondered why, when things are going good, we are getting what we want, we are riding high, we so often feel the furthest from God. He said, during those seasons, it seems we are so slow to turn to God. We forget about Him. It takes us rolling back down into a valley to turn to Him. Well, this Proverb offers a very simple and direct answer.
God knows each and every one of us. He knows our bents. He knows how we will receive blessing and how we will steward those gifts. A man who has “everything”, or at least everything he wants, can easily find himself falling in to the trap of indifference to God. We become expectant, complacent and unappreciative. His gifts become devalued. If every year, nearly every time I went to the field, I could harvest a “trophy” deer or elk, how long do you think I would appreciate His blessing? If every customer who walked into the archery or harley shop, dropped a pile of money, how long would it be before I had little regard for those people, for God?
God’s provision is always there. Not only that, when we approach Him with a humble and grateful heart, His provision will be precisely what we need, our allotment.
Deuteronomy 8:17 (NKJV) then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
When we are given much, often times our tendency is to take the credit. It was my ingenuity, my drive, my effort that produced the success. We tend to think far too highly of ourselves and dismiss the true source of the blessing. Our efforts may have produced a result, but where did our gifts and talents originate from. Who blessed us with the opportunity to apply those gifts? All good things are from God, no other. When we forget that, lose sight of the source, refuse to be humble and grateful, giving all glory to God, He WILL bring us low.
Deuteronomy 8:18-20 (NKJV) “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.
I’ve never given thought to the notion that the reason something may not be happening for me, coming to me or being provided me as I would desire, could simply be God’s intentional withholding. That He may keep it from me, because I cannot handle it. It may be something that would draw me away from Him. It may simply not be a portion of my allotment.
I will certainly be more mindful of how I pray for provision going forward. I will also be grateful for the provision He blesses me with and how I utilize it. It is, after all, my God given allotment. I hope you all will do the same. God Bless you and have a glorious weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
