Prayer for the Convenient
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 2/21/2018 PM (Prayer Day) |
Text: | Proverbs 30:8,9 |
Psalters: | 402, 285, 297, 366 |
- Convenient food.
- “Food” refers to the same thing as “bread” in the Lord’s prayer.
- “Convenient” is that which is allotted t me, or my portion, i.e., what is suitable to my need.
- The portion is not the same amount for everyone, but depends on the size of one’s household (as the manna, Ex. 16:18).
- Our allotted portion is given, i.e., it is not our right, but a recognition that God owns all things.
- On Prayer Day we petition God to supply our natural needs, but also our spiritual needs.
- This prayer evidences the great spiritual quality of knowing ourselves well, namely, that extremes are hard for us to handle well.
- To ask that God “give me not riches” is very much contrary to our natural desire for more, and more.
- The desire for riches is the root of all evil (Eccl. 5:10; Habakkuk 2:5; I Tim. 6:9,10).
- Wisdom is the awareness of how easy it is for us to think, I don’t need God: “deny Thee and say, Who is Jehovah?”
- And “give me not poverty.”
- Poverty is the lack of life’s necessities so our very existence is threatened.
- Poverty brings us to the point of desperation so we are inclined to break the law, to steal, or to curse God.
- To ask that God “give me not riches” is very much contrary to our natural desire for more, and more.
- What do we want to be our proper spiritual attitude toward the things of this life?
- Knowing that God gives as He pleases, riches for some and poverty for others, we pray this prayer submissively.
- We are confessing that we need God’s blessing to be faithful to Him so we use riches correctly.
- Do you want to pray this prayer tonight?
- Pray that earthly things will not interfere with our fellowship with Him.
- Pray that we will see earthly things as God-given opportunities to communicate with our heavenly Father.