“Lord, Give Me Just As Much As You Have Allocated For Me!”

“Lord, Give Me Just As Much As You Have Allocated For Me!”
(Text: Prv. 30:5-9).
The “eisegesis” – the way we read meaning into texts these days is the predominant reason for the seeming nonchalance of God towards our prayers and petitions. “Exegesis” – which is the critical explanation or interpretation of scripture is often blatantly ignored or outrightly minimised. That is why many gullible faithful would cling tenaciously to the utterances of the “Papa” or “Mama” or “(Wo)Man of God, not minding whether they are scripturally authenticated or not.
We are reminded that “every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refugee in him.” This is to say in God alone do we have self-sufficiency, security and assurance of a bright tomorrow.
God is unchanging in form and in his words. Through Moses he has asked us, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you”(Dt.4:2). The wiseman reminds us on this, “Do not add to his words or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”
Therefore, knowing that God’s promises to you is assured, make your request to him with moderation so as to keep his name honourable: “Two things I ask of you O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.”
Job saw the correlation between keeping God’s words on his lips and his daily bread. While daily bread is food to feed the body, God’s word is to be treasured more than daily bread because God’s word is food for the soul(Jb.23:12).
Moderation and not excess is what the Lord provides to all who depend on him. Jesus reiterated this, “Give us today our daily bread”(Mt.6:11).
There is the tendency that when we swim in abundance and affluence our hearts become proud and we forget that it is the Lord who has done it(Dt.8:12). Then in arrogance we ask, “Who is the Lord?”
The flipside of it is to “become poor and steal and so dishonours the name of my God.”
My friend, the Lord is your shepherd and your provider. He wants you to work hard for him to bless the works of your hands by providing for what satisfies your basic human needs of food, shelter and clothing. He provides enough for you and your household and all those he has kept in his plan to bless them through you.
Work hard to feed your soul with his word, even as he feeds you with daily bread. Don’t ask for much; just ask for enough. Work so that you do not steal and dishonour the Lord’s name!
Prayer: Lord I treasure in your word. Give me enough to humble me and not too much to make me haughty and let me not dishonour your name. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Babila Fochang.