Give Me Only My Daily Bread (Part 1)

Proverbs 30:7-9
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.

Wealth blinds the eyes of the rich and poverty the eyes of the poor.

After bringing the Israelites out from the land of slavery in Egypt, Moses told the Israelites not to forget the Lord that rescued them. Moses warned them not to forget their God once they are blessed with lands, herds, food, drinks, wealth and everything nice.

Moses told the Israelites,

Deuteronomy 8:7
The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land – a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

As predicted by Moses, the Israelites eventually did forget about the Lord God that brought them out of Egypt and blessed them with the Promised Land. They were so caught up in their riches and wealth that they ignore God.

What happened in the Bible is happening in the world today as well. Today, the people who are rich and wealthy are the ones who are most likely to leave this world not accepting Jesus Christ. That means the rich and wealthy are the ones who don’t seem to need God.
It is because they are so secured with their wealth and so self-sustaining, they think that God is just something to pass time. Many who are religious even pray to their God asking for more money. They want blessings after blessings and there is no need for God to be in their life because they have a full life already and they are enjoying every moment.

Wealth can be a curse. It blinds the eyes of many to see that life is all about earning money and more money. To them, life is just that and that alone – money.

My youth pastor, spiritual father and friend, Pastor John taught me how and what to pray for people that are enjoying life having everything they want. He told me that he prays for his relatives who are basically rich and have all they need and much more. He asks God to pull the carpet off their feet. You get what I mean? You see, these people are so comfortable where they are and they are enjoying it, so they see no need to have God in their lives. Therefore it is wise to pray and ask God to pull the carpet off their feet and let them fall. Also meaning that, to call disaster upon them so they will be shaken and when they are desperate enough, then they will open their hearts to Jesus.

And that was what exactly I prayed for my family. But I am not going to write in my blog what happened.

It is not cruel to pray this kind of prayers but it is wise to do so. These people must understand that money is not everything and it is not permanent and does not last forever. Money cannot satisfy them. They will want more and more and more. Money will not buy happiness nor security. Money cannot buy health, it can only prolong your life. Money is a necessity in life but definitely not life’s only asset. Eventually, the hunger for money will bring you straight to your GRAVE!

I say this boldly because I know what is happening. It is clear to see that everyone in this world has the ultimate aim to get rich and enjoy life. However I tell you that there must to be more to life than this.

Do not boast in front of me about your riches and wealth and whatever things that you own or do not own. I do not want to know and I don’t need to know anyway. But what I am interested in hearing is you telling me how strong your walk with God is and how close are you to God. Boast about your spiritual wealth not your worldly wealth.

Do not look up to the rich and do not look down on the poor. Live life simple. Above all else, seek after the Kingdom of God and then everything else will be added to you as well.

The Israelites forgot about God because of the wealth they enjoyed. But… What does it matter to you?

1 Samuel 2:7
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
He humbles and he exalts.

There Must To Be More To Life Than This.
-Zlwin Chew