Most of us believe things about ourselves that aren't true. We do it for many different reasons, but the main reason is that we don't want to believe who we really are. How well do you know yourself? When God begins to show us things about ourselves that He wants to change, we often deny it - and then, because we love God, we have to face it. As the old saying goes, "God loves you just the way you are—but He loves you too much to leave you that way!" For today, let's consider the words of a man in the Old Testament who was very self aware and see what we can learn from him:
O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. (Proverbs 30:7-9)
In this passage, a man is being open with God about his life. He knows that God doesn't like lying, so he cries out to God to help him saying, "First, help me never to tell a lie." I like that, don't you? Have you ever prayed a prayer like that? I admire his courage. Then he says, "Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs." Why would he say that? He answers this question himself, "For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name." This man is obviously aware of his moral weaknesses and he doesn't want to do anything to mess up his relationship with God. He knows that if he becomes rich, he's liable to spend it on himself and forget God. He knows that if he becomes poor, he may resort to stealing and insult God and his name. How about you today? How's your relationship with money? How's your relationship with God? Are you willing to have an honest conversation with Him today about who you really are? What stops you from having that conversation? Do you need to repent?
God has promised in His word that if you and I will repent of our sins and ask Him to help us, we can have a fresh new start with Him...and that's very Good News!
