Articles
Never Satisfied - Prov. 30:7-9
Never Satisfied - Prov. 30:7-9
”Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God” (Proverbs 30:7-9).
I think the ‘middle ground’ between poverty and riches is not ‘middle-class’ but ‘contentment’. Contentment is not about ‘how much’ but is more of an attitude towards materialism.
An imagined conversation:
Me: "I have learned the secret of contentment: contentment is knowing that you have enough."
You: "How much is enough?"
Me: "Just a little more than I now have."
And so it goes... just a little more and THEN I will be content. The problem with this is simply that it doesn't work: contentment doesn't come from having or not having possessions. Contentment doesn't come from circumstances of life.
"Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied" (Proverbs 27:20).
"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?" (Ecclesiastes 5:10–11).
1. I need to learn to enjoy and be thankful for what I have.
"What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 6:9).
"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content" (1 Timothy 6:6–8).
"Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," (Hebrews 13:5).
2. I must learn to serve God 'in the state' I am in.
When Paul wrote Philippians, he was in jail (1:12-13). Brethren were attempting to cause him problems (1:15-17). Many who had supported him, even the Philippians, had not been able to provide for him during this time (4:15-16). Yet, he rejoiced in the LORD. Even in such a situation, he did not despair. He was sufficient (self-able) to deal with this. He was able to serve the Lord in jail or out of jail, in sickness or in health, in poverty or wealth. This was NOT about necessarily changing his circumstances to be more comfortable, but about having the strength to serve the Lord when things were difficult.
Such contentment comes from experience: "I have learned" (vs. 11). HOW does one learn to serve the Lord in adverse circumstances? By being there and doing that. When I read Phil. 4:11, I ask myself: "Are you really willing to serve the Lord if you lost everything you owned, were thrown in prison, and deprived of all your rights?" How would YOU answer that question?
Hugh DeLong
