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Day 240 Proverbs 30:7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 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. (KJV) Nobody wants to be poor, live their lives in poverty, or be subject to the government for help with everything they need. Instead, they want to have a life of comfort and ease so they don’t wonder where their next meal comes from. They want a job to fulfill the desires of their heart and provide everything they need. Solomon, in his wisdom, saw man’s greed. The more they had, the more they wanted. It did not satisfy them with what they had. More was their creed. As he looked at man’s greed, he prayed for God to give him only what he needed. Not too much and not too little, so he could give God glory for His provision. As Christians, you want to live the good life. You want to give to those in need. However, in wanting to live the good life and give to those in need, who are you doing it for, yourself or God? Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, who did everything so people would praise them. Matthew 6:5 And when you pray, you will not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Luke 18:9 And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone who exalts himself will be abased; and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Many Christians need to change their attitude and focus. You don’t want your reward on earth, but in heaven. You want Jesus to say well done good and faithful servant. Greed comes in two ways. You can be greedy for gain and you can be greedy for attention. Instead, seek God’s will for your life in your prayer closet where it’s only you and God. When no one but God sees and hears you, the world falls away. There’s a line in the song Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus that says: 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. Don’t let the world draw your attention away from God. Seek God’s will and not the praise of men and you will see God work in your life in ways you couldn’t imagine. Then your prayer will be the same as Solomon’s. Give me only what I need, not too much and not too little. Let’s pray: Father, I don’t want to be a beggar in this world. Help me look to You as my provider, my Jehovah Jireh. Keep my eyes focused on You and not on myself. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 8 February 2022 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay.