December 16, 2022 7:00 pm
In the movie Fiddler on the Roof, the character Tevye talks honestly with God about His economics: “You made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor. But it’s no great honor either! So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune! . . . Would it have spoiled some vast, eternal plan—if I were a wealthy man?”
Many centuries before author Sholem Aleichem placed these honest words on Tevye’s tongue, Agur lifted an equally honest but somewhat different prayer to God in the book of Proverbs. Agur asked God to give him neither poverty nor wealth—just his “daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8). He knew that having “too much” could make him proud and transform him into a practical atheist—denying the character of God. In addition, he asked God to not let him “become poor” because it might cause him to dishonor His name by stealing from others (v. 9). Agur recognized God as his sole provider, and he asked Him for “just enough” to satisfy his daily needs. His prayer revealed a pursuit of God and the contentment that’s found in Him alone.
May we have Agur’s attitude, recognizing God as the provider of all we have. And as we pursue financial stewardship that honors His name, let’s live in contentment before Him—the One who not only provides “just enough,” but more than enough.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.
The devotional for today, titled Just Enough, was written by Marvin Williams. In the movie Fiddler on the Roof, the character Tevye talks honestly with God about his economics. You made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either. So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune? Would it have spoiled some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy man? Many centuries before author Sholem Aleichem placed these honest words on Tevye's tongue, Agar lifted an equally honest but somewhat different prayer to God in the book of Proverbs. Agar asked God to give him neither poverty nor wealth, just his daily bread. He knew that having too much could make him proud and transform him into a practical atheist, denying the character of God. In addition, he asked God to not let him become poor because it might cause him to dishonor God's name by stealing from others. Agar recognized God as his sole provider, and he asked him for just enough to satisfy his daily needs. His prayer revealed a pursuit of God and the contentment that's found in him alone. May we have Agar's attitude, recognizing God as the provider of all we have.
And as we pursue financial stewardship that honors his name, let's live in contentment before him, the one who not only provides just enough, but more than enough. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Proverbs chapter 30 verses 7 through 9. Two things I ask of you, 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 become poor and steal and so dishonor the name of my God. Let's pray. God, our Father, please help us to be content and fully satisfied in you alone and everything that you supply, knowing that you will meet our every need in life. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus' name that we pray and trust. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Wes Ward and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2022-12-17 18:18:08 / 2022-12-17 18:19:31 / 1
