Joy A. Mead

What makes someone rich and another poor? Can a wealthy person be poor and likewise a poor person be rich? These were the types of questioned discussed recently at my Bible study group while studying various verses from the book of Proverbs. 

My heart stirred as I listened to the story about a single mum with grown sons and how she genuinely had struggled throughout the years with finances and trying to provide stability for her boys. Though she had very little worldly richness, I was captivated by her beautiful heart attitude which was far from poor in spirit. This woman would pray, “Lord, please bless me with enough for me and my little ones. May we be content with the blessings you give for our provision.” I couldn’t help but think this was such a humble and wonderful prayer from a mother’s heart. 

I personally was humbled as I went home from the Bible study and was pondering about others who have truly struggled with basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. I have never known true hunger or worried if we would be able to pay the bills or have any Christmas presents for the children, however, I deeply want to always have the humility, contentment, and understanding that wealth is not determined by what I own. 

Some of the most content people in life, seem to have nothing in worldly possessions, yet they have a sense of gratitude and joy for what they do have. Meanwhile, there are others who seemingly ‘have it all’ in finances and goods to acquire, however many of them are completely poor in spirit and as a result, they are quite unhappy in life. 

Proverbs 30:8-9 says, “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 dishonour the name of my God.” It is so beautifully written and I want to echo this prayer all of my days. Let’s live with a perspective that regardless of rags or riches, all of what we have belongs to God first and foremost. 

God’s generosity is abundant and regardless of what is being gifted to us, we can gratefully receive His blessings and then go on to bless others. As we do so as a token of thanksgiving, we acknowledge that all gifts whether monetary, materialistic, or the giving of our time and creative talents come from God the Father. We come before the King of Kings and ask for the provision that is needed for our unique situation and then let our prayer request rest in the safe and loving arms of our Creator. 

However God chooses to bless us over the course of our lifetimes, we can be confident that He cares for our individual and collective needs. Whether we are rich or poor in the eyes of the world, we can be confident and content as we let God’s provision for us to be enough.