May 30, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 30
Click above for full KJV Online

Today's Pathway:previous - - - - - - - - - - - - next
Click above to go directly to TP
Following Scripture Verses

1. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2. Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
5. Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
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.
10. Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15. The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16. The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18. There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19. The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
20. Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21. For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
22. For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23. For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24. There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26. The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27. The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28. The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
29. There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30. A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31. A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
32. If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33. Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Today's Pathway:
You may click on verses for Scripture

"...feed me with food convenient for me" - Proverbs 30:8

The prayer request of Agur recorded in today's verse shows great wisdom on his part. He asks the Lord to give him exactly what is best for him to have.

We tend to think that we know what is best for our own lives. We are certain we know what job would be the best for us, or what the best vehicle would be for us to drive. We think that we know what neighborhood we should live in, what school we should attend or send our kids to, and how much disposable income we should have. Once we have arbitrarily made these decisions, we begin to act upon them, working diligently to accomplish the goals that we have set for ourselves. Often we never achieve them, and this becomes discouraging. Even more disheartening is to reach these goals, yet realize that they do not bring us joy.

I am not saying that it is wrong to set goals, but all our plans must be tempered by the ultimate desire for the Lord to have His way in our lives. My prayer must be that God would give me exactly what is best for me. My "dream job" may not be in my best interests. Living in "that" neighborhood may in fact hinder my spiritual development, or perhaps put me in a place where my ability to minister might be limited. Having a large amount of money in a savings account may cause me to trust in my assets rather than in the Lord. Thus, I need to constantly ask the Lord to show me His plan and to give me what is best for me.

Do you desire to have God's best? Are you willing to ask Him for it, and then be satisfied and grateful when He gives it?

Pastor Mark J Montgomery