THRIVE THOUGHT
Wisdom: Neither Poverty Nor Riches
The wisdom of Proverbs 30:8 says, “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread” (NIV).
If this is wisdom, how many of us are praying this prayer? The writer of this passage, Agur, pleads for balance. He doesn’t want to be poor—which could lead to desperation—nor rich, which could lead to pride and forgetting God.
I met an obedient and faithful follower of Christ who shared with me that he and his wife felt called to live on a set income every year—not too poor and not too rich. If God provided additional provision, they were led by the Holy Spirit to give it away!
In a similar way, God has led my husband and me to give a percentage of our income (100% of it comes from him) back to ministries that are meeting physical and spiritual needs to further his kingdom. God’s faithfulness has been so abundant every year, he challenges us to increase the percentage.
Our material needs—and let’s be honest, our material wants—in this world pale in comparison to the treasure of knowing Christ (see Matthew 13:44). How is God calling you to use his resources to further his kingdom?
Erica Smith lives with her husband, J.R., and children Jeremiah and Eva in Fort Wayne, IN. She has spent her career in the financial services industry and is actively involved with Pathway Community Church’s Thrive Ministry.
Learn more about Thrive Financial Ministry HERE.
Wisdom: Neither Poverty Nor Riches
The wisdom of Proverbs 30:8 says, “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread” (NIV).
If this is wisdom, how many of us are praying this prayer? The writer of this passage, Agur, pleads for balance. He doesn’t want to be poor—which could lead to desperation—nor rich, which could lead to pride and forgetting God.
I met an obedient and faithful follower of Christ who shared with me that he and his wife felt called to live on a set income every year—not too poor and not too rich. If God provided additional provision, they were led by the Holy Spirit to give it away!
In a similar way, God has led my husband and me to give a percentage of our income (100% of it comes from him) back to ministries that are meeting physical and spiritual needs to further his kingdom. God’s faithfulness has been so abundant every year, he challenges us to increase the percentage.
Our material needs—and let’s be honest, our material wants—in this world pale in comparison to the treasure of knowing Christ (see Matthew 13:44). How is God calling you to use his resources to further his kingdom?
Erica Smith lives with her husband, J.R., and children Jeremiah and Eva in Fort Wayne, IN. She has spent her career in the financial services industry and is actively involved with Pathway Community Church’s Thrive Ministry.
Learn more about Thrive Financial Ministry HERE.
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