The Favor of Troubles

“Two things I ask of you, 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.  Proverbs 30:7-9

Do you ever get so caught up in the troubles you are dealing with that you forget why you have these problems to begin with?  No, not The Ten Commandments type troubles although sometimes that applies but the ‘why do I have to deal with this issue’ type troubles.  A plain example might be having to deal with a flat tire or a leak in the roof of your home. In those situations, we are so wrapped up in dealing with the pain of the situation and acting to rectify the situation, we often fail to see the blessing of each.  Having a flat tire, do we tend to lose sight of the fact we have a working vehicle or that the flat tire did not occur in a dangerous spot?  Is the leaky roof and the expense to repair it overshadowing the joy that comes from having a lovely home to come into that has air conditioning on a sizzling summer day or heat on a chilly night?  Every so often, I tend to forget how favored I am, and though it may be burdensome to have to deal with those issues, I must remember that I can deal with these issues.  Years ago, the younger me would have had to panic wondering how we as a family could deal with it.  Perhaps it is those prior experiences where God somehow showed up in that place that keeps me humble when dealing with hardships today.

Having God’s favor is a humbling place to be.  We all have situations that can drive us to a point where we do not have it all together.  In today’s verses, we come across the sayings of Agur.  While we know Proverbs was written predominantly by Solomon, Proverbs 30 is from Agur, who like Solomon also was incredibly wise indeed.  In reading these verses, you get a sense he understood how he contrasted with God.  Furthermore, the verses throughout this chapter note his humility, sincerity, and thoughtfulness.  I would call it contentment neither wanting to be too rich to lose sight of God nor too poor to resort to actions that might be disrespectful of Him.  These words are very encouraging because it reminds us that God’s provisions are always ‘enough.’  When we question if we have the strength to endure or wonder how we can make something work, Paul reminds us by saying, “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:36)

We should be in awe of a God’s favor in so many ways.  Yes, with these blessings come challenges, but let us remember the profound words of Jesus, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” (Luke 12:48b) These blessings are not just gifts.  They are divine opportunities that should humble us and draw us closer to the heart of God.  Let us be appreciative of the things we are given and the challenges that come with them because God has a purpose for all things.  What things should you acknowledge God’s provision that you might not have previously?  What challenge do you see where God is providing an opportunity to know Him better?  My prayer is that through all things, we maintain a level of humility knowing God provides for us.  Amen.