Neither Poverty Nor Riches

~ I took this picture in our living room, using Josiah as my model - February 6, 2010

If I had had enough room in the picture, I would have included the entire text of Proverbs 30:7-9; but since I couldn't do that, I'll post it here:

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 become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

Recently I've thought more than normal about two groups of people: those who have far less than me (the earthquake survivors in Haiti, for example) and those who have much more. It's been easy to feel compassion for those who are suffering from deprivation--who has seen or heard about the devastation and hasn't felt compassion?--but I can't say that I've felt much compassion from those who are suffering from excess! I wish I could truthfully say that I haven't experienced even a bit of envy when I consider those whose incomes are much larger than ours and whose lifestyles are much grander than the fairly humble one we have; but I'd be lying, and this passage also reminds me not to do that. :)

Here is something that is true: the vast majority of the time, I am so very content with our income, lifestyle, bank account, cars, home, clothes, other possessions and so very aware of how blessed we are in all the other areas of life that matter even more (relationship with God, marriage, our sons, the freedom we have to worship God, our education, health, etc.). But in those random moments when my heart begins to selfishly long for more, this proverb runs through my head and I pray, "Thank You that You haven't given me poverty, and I also thank You that You haven't given me riches! Please never give me so much that I would reach the point of feeling like I don't need You, for that would be a tragedy with eternal consequences."