Proverbs 30:1-9

“Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need.” Proverbs 30:8 (New Revised Standard Version)

What a great passage of scripture! Please take the time to read the whole thing. Its forthright speech is refreshing. “Surely I am too stupid to be human; I do not have human understanding.” Such honesty! No arrogance here! In a world of complex politics, simple straight-forward honesty is a breath of fresh air.

Equally intriguing is verse 9 of this passage (as seen above). The first part, a simple plea to keep my words true to God’s longing for this earth, is a good reminder to be thoughtful in my speech. But it’s the next part that caught my eye. So often, the rich are posed as the “bad guys”, the ones with all the power and, I admit, too often that is true. However, here it tells me that neither poverty nor wealth makes one good or bad. The writer, seeking ‘none of the above’ wants only to be given enough. I interpret that to mean enough provisions for my physical needs and enough spiritual food to keep me strong in my faith in God to face the day. And really, that is enough, isn’t it?

God, “Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need…” So be it.

— Pastor Fay Ann Blaylock, First Christian Church (DOC) and Zion United Church of Christ