A Most Dangerous Prayer

Proverbs 30:7-9 (KJV King James Version)
Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Proverbs 30:7-9 (AMP Amplified Version)
Two things have I asked of You [O Lord]; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, Lest I be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God.

Back in the spring of 1982, I was spiritually, emotionally, and physically destitute because my wife of 16 years divorced me. As I sought answers to my dilemma, I sought answers in reading the Bible. During the next 3 months, I came to understand my part in the divorce and found forgiveness in Jesus. As I was "born again", I read through Proverbs each month during my "quite time". In the late summer of 1982, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit to commit to prayer the verses found in Proverbs 30: 7-9. I was able to pray such a prayer because I had learned that God would provide for me. I was so thankful for God's forgiveness that I wanted to give up anything that would lead me to cause Him to be scorned by unbelievers. Since I knew that I needed God’s grace to overcome my desires, I committed the verses to prayer.

During the few months, my desire for the "things of this world" (lust of the eyes) were changed from buying "stuff" to funding other Christian's needs, supporting my local church and missionaries, attending Evangelism classes, and scaling down my life-style. My prayer was confirmed during a Sunday music service in the late summer of 1982 when the song, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" (see Blue Box below) was performed by the church choir.

Little did I know what the Lord had in store for me? My involvement in Christian music, Bible and Evangelism studies, and funding changes contributed to my employer of 19 years coming into the office during the spring of 1983. He assaulted and fired me. I was injured and no longer had a job that could fund my Christian activities or living arrangements.

My Mother offered me a place to live in Little Elm, Texas (about 12 miles East of Denton, Texas. I had visited the "homestead" through the years with my wife and children but when my Dad died, she moved to Dallas and my younger brother was living in the home. She also let me drive my Dad's old pickup since I no longer had a "company vehicle" to drive. She would bring up groceries each week for my brother and me. She would also give me some "pocket money" for gasoline and other personal needs. Since I was unemployed and injured, my daily routine would be to fix meals, clean the home, and do the laundry. During each day, I would listen to Christian music, read and study the Bible, and rest in the back yard. During this time, I was convicted while reading the Bible to drop the lawsuit against my former employer for his assault upon me and his unlawful firing (at 20 years of employment, I was receive a full 20% interest in the business -- valued at $5,000,000). The next year, he had to sell the business because he could not "manage" the complexity of the business without me. He sold the business for $2,000,000 and retired to his country home.

My Mother remarried a family friend (Pete) that she had known for over 50 years. He was also widowed and they "seemed" to be very happy together. They would come to the "homestead" each week and Pete would suggest employment options for me. In the fall of 1983, Pete offered me a position in his "Bee Honey" business. I would be traveling with him and Mom to food conventions throughout Texas. When I returned to the homestead in the winter, I discovered that my younger brother had met a woman. They were sharing his bedroom and they had no intention of marriage. As I confronted my brother on their living arrangement, he suggested that I move out.  After talking with Mom and Pete (who were in bad health at the time), they suggested that I find another place to live.

Since I had continued to be active in church activities, I met a woman (Sandy) in 1982 who had been a   single parent for ten years with 3 teenagers and loved the Lord and His people. After calling Sandy, she suggested that I bring my belongings to her home where I could "camp out" on the sofa. I had been to several Church retreats with Sandy and she loved the fact that I loved the Lord and cared for her teenage children. I had asked Sandy to marry me on 2 occasions (fall 82 & summer 83) and she said that I was not ready for marriage since I did not have a "regular job" and I need to continue to grow spiritually.

In the winter of 83, I got a job with Handy Dan Home Improvement Center (later to become Home Depot). My first job, despite my work history, was sweeping the floors, moving fixtures, and stocking. The job paid minimum wage (a far cry from my previous 19 year position which paid in excess of $40,000 + perks), but I was joyful in my relationship with Jesus. I proposed to Sandy again in the early spring of 84 and she agreed. We were married and I now became a permanent member of her family.

Since 1984, I have many ups and downs in my employment. I have been employed with 10 different companies. My income has ranged from good to none (commission only jobs). God has continued to answer the prayer that I prayed back in 1982. My growth in Christ likeness continues. I have been at peace in all my circumstances because He is in charge of the events in life. One of the first verses that I continue to thank God for is listed below in the Red Box.    

1 Corinthians 10:13-14 (KJV)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 (AMP)
For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).

Other verses that I have carried in my heart and mind since the beginning of my Christian walk are:

Psalms 24:1, Proverbs 3: 5-6, John 10:10, John 10:27-30,
John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 John 2:15-17

Go to the Salvation is a Free Gift Page

Here are some of the books that I have read that have strengthen my walk with Jesus.

Knowing God by J.I. Packer, The Sovereignty of God by Arthur Pink, Comfort for Christians by Arthur W. Pink,
The Invisible War by Donald Grey Barnhouse, Money, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy Alcorn,
More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, The Timothy Principle by Roy Robertson

Go to the Salvation is a Free Gift Page

Return to the Perilous Times Main Page

Go to the Delicate Issues Page

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Words and Music: Helen H. Lemmel
Based on John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly". KJV

Click Here to Listen to the Music

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

 

Proverbs 30:8

The order of the two requests is significant. The wise man's prayer is first and chiefly, "truth in the inward parts," the removal of all forms of falsehood, hollowness, hypocrisy.

[Neither poverty ...] The evil of the opposite extremes of social life is that in different ways they lead men to a false standard of duty, and so to that forgetfulness of God which passes into an absolute denial.

[Food convenient for me] literally, "give me for food the bread of my appointed portion." The prayer foreshadows that which we have been taught by the Divine Wisdom: "Give us, day by day, our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11)(The Model Prayer)
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
Proverbs 30:8

[Remove far from me vanity and lies.]
1. Shaaw' (OT:7723), all false shows, all false appearances of happiness, every vain expectation. Let me not set my heart on anything that is not solid, true, durable, and eternal.

2. Lies, daabar (OT:1696) kaazaab (OT:3577), all words of deception, empty pretensions, false promises, uncertain dependences, and words that fail; promises which, when they become due, are like bad bills; they are dishonoured because they are found to be forged, or the drawer insolvent.
From the import of the original, I am satisfied that Agur prays against idolatry, false religion, and false worship of every kind. Shaaw' (OT:7723) is used for an idol, a false god. Jer 18:15: "My people have forsaken me; they have burnt incense to VANITY;" lashaaw' (OT:7723), "to an IDOL." Ps 31:6: "I have hated them that regard lying VANITIES;" hableey (OT:1892) shaawe' (OT:7723), "vain IDOLS." See also Hos 12:11; Jonah 2:8. And kaazab (OT:3576), a thing that fails or deceives, may well apply to the vain pretensions, false promises, and deceptive religious rites of idolatry. So Jer 15:18: "Wilt thou be unto me as a liar," kªmow (OT:3644) 'akzaab (OT:391), like the false, failing promises of the false gods; "and as waters that fail;" lo (OT:3808) ne'ªmaanuw (OT:539), that are not faithful; not like the true God, whose promises never fail.

According to this view of the subject, Agur prays,

1. That he may be preserved from idolatry.

2. That he may put no confidence in any words but those pure words of God that never fail them that trust in him.
[Give me neither poverty nor riches] Here are three requests:

1. Give me not poverty. The reason is added: Lest, being poor, I shall get into a covetous spirit, and, impelled by want, distrust my Maker, and take my neighbour's property; and, in order to excuse, hide, or vindicate my conduct, I take the name of my God in vain; tapastiy (OT:8610), "I catch at the name of God." Or, by swearing falsely, endeavour to make myself pass for innocent. Forswere the name of my God.-Old Manuscript Bible. Coverdale, "deny or apostatize from him."

2. Give me not riches. For which petition he gives a reason also: Lest I be full, and addict myself to luxurious living, pamper the flesh and starve the soul, and so deny thee, the Fountain of goodness; and, if called on to resort to first principles, I say, Who is Yahweh? Why should I acknowledge, why should I serve him? And thus cast aside all religion, and all moral obligation.

3. The third request is, Feed me with food convenient for me, haTªriypeeniy (OT:2963) lechem (OT:3899) chuqiy (OT:2706); the meaning of which is, "give me as prey my statute allowance of bread," i.e., my daily bread, a sufficient portion for each day. There is an allusion made to hunting: "Direct so by thy good providence, that I may each day find sufficient portion to subsist on, as a hunter in the forest prays that he may have good speed." It is the province of a preacher to show the importance and utility of such a prayer, and dilate the circumstances, and expand the reasons, after the commentator has shown the literal sense. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft)
Proverbs 30:7-9

The prayer of Agur

After Agur's confession and creed, here follows his litany, where we may observe,

I. The preface to his prayer: Two things have I required (that is, requested) of thee, O God! Before we go to pray it is good to consider what we need, and what the things are which we have to ask of God.--What does our case require? What do our hearts desire? What would we that God should do for us?-that we may not have to seek for our petition and request when we should be presenting it. He begs, Deny me not before I die. In praying, we should think of dying, and pray accordingly. "Lord, give me pardon, and peace, and grace, before I die, before I go hence and be no more; for, if I be not renewed and sanctified before I die, the work will not be done after; if I do not prevail in prayer before I die, prayers afterwards will not prevail, no, not Lord, Lord. There is none of this wisdom or working in the grave. Deny me not thy grace, for, if thou do, I die, I perish; if thou be silent to me, I am like those that go down to the pit, Ps 28:1. Deny me not before I die; as long as I continue in the land of the living, let me continue under the conduct of thy grace and good providence."

II. The prayer itself. The two things he requires are grace sufficient and food convenient.

1. Grace sufficient for his soul: "Remove from me vanity and lies; deliver me from sin, from all corrupt principles, practices, and affections, from error and mistake, which are at the bottom of all sin, from the love of the world and the things of it, which are all vanity and a lie." Some understand it as a prayer for the pardon of sin, for, when God forgives sin, he removes it, he takes it away. Or, rather, it is a prayer of the same import with that, Lead us not into temptation. Nothing is more mischievous to us than sin, and therefore there is nothing which we should more earnestly pray against than that we may do no evil.

2. Food convenient for his body. Having prayed for the operations of divine grace, he here begs the favours of the divine Providence, but such as may tend to the good and not to the prejudice of the soul.

(1.) He prays that of God's free gift he might receive a competent portion of the good things of this life: "Feed me with the bread of my allowance, such bread as thou thinkest fit to allow me." As to all the gifts of the divine Providence, we must refer ourselves to the divine wisdom. Or, "the bread that is fit for me, as a man, a master of a family, that which is agreeable to my rank and condition in the world." For as is the man so is his competency. Our Saviour seems to refer to this when he teaches us to pray, Give us this day our daily bread, as this seems to refer to Jacob's vow, in which he wished for no more than bread to eat and raiment to put on. Food convenient for us is what we ought to be content with, though we have not dainties, varieties, and superfluities-what is for necessity, though we have not for delight and ornament; and it is what we may in faith pray for and depend upon God for.

(2.) He prays that he may be kept from every condition of life that would be a temptation to him.

[1.] He prays against the extremes of abundance and want: Give me neither poverty nor riches. He does not hereby prescribe to God, nor pretend to teach him what condition he shall allot to him, nor does he pray against poverty or riches absolutely, as in themselves evil, for either of them, by the grace of God, may be sanctified and be a means of good to us; but, First, He hereby intends to express the value which wise and good men have for a middle state of life, and, with submission to the will of God, desires that that might be his state, neither great honour nor great contempt. We must learn how to manage both (as St. Paul, Phil 4:12), but rather wish to be always between both. Optimus pecuniae modus qui nec in paupertatem cedit nec procul ... paupertate discedit-The best condition is that which neither implies poverty nor yet recedes far from it. Seneca. Secondly, He hereby intimates a holy jealousy he had of himself, that he could not keep his ground against the temptations either of an afflicted or a prosperous condition. Others may preserve their integrity in either, but he is afraid of both, and therefore grace teaches him to pray against riches as much as nature against poverty; but the will of the Lord be done.

[2.] He gives a pious reason for his prayer, v. 9. He does not say, "Lest I be rich, Prov 30:7-9 and cumbered with care, and envied by my neighbours, and eaten up with a multitude of servants, or, lest I be poor and trampled on, and forced to work hard and fare hard;" but, "Lest I be rich and sin, or poor and sin." Sin is that which a good man is afraid of in every condition and under every event; witness Nehemiah (Prov 6:13), that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin. First, He dreads the temptations of a prosperous condition, and therefore even deprecates that: Lest I be full and deny thee (as Jeshurun, who waxed fat and kicked, and forsook God who made him, Deut 32:15), and say, as Pharaoh in his pride, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice? Prosperity makes people proud and forgetful of God, as if they had no need of him and were therefore under no obligation to him. What can the Almighty do for them? Job 22:17.

And therefore they will do nothing for him. Even good men are afraid of the worst sins, so deceitful do they think their own hearts to be; and they know that the greatest gains of the world will not balance the least guilt. Secondly, He dreads the temptations of a poor condition, and for that reason, and no other, deprecates that: Lest I be poor and steal. Poverty is a strong temptation to dishonesty, and such as many are overcome by, and they are ready to think it will be their excuse; but it will not bear them out at God's bar any more than at men's to say, "I stole because I was poor;" yet, if a man steal for the satisfying of his soul when he is hungry, it is a case of compassion (Prov 6:30) and what even those that have some principles of honesty in them may be drawn to. But observe why Agur dreads this, not because he should endanger himself by it, "Lest I steal, and be hanged for it, whipped or put in the stocks, or sold for a bondman," as among the Jews poor thieves were, who had not wherewithal to make restitution; but lest he should dishonour God by it: "Lest I should steal, and take the name of my God in vain, that is, discredit my profession of religion by practices disagreeable to it." Or, "Lest I steal, and, when I am charged with it, forswear myself." He therefore dreads one sin, because it would draw on another, for the way of sin is downhill. Observe, He calls God his God, and therefore he is afraid of doing any thing to offend him because of the relation he stands in to him. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)