Proverbs 30 - Ancient wisdom on the joys of being "middle class"
Actually, the residual Marxist in me has to correct myself...this is really about being "middle income."
Proverbs 30 (I know today is the 2nd, but following Tom's lead I'm finishing "February") says:
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
Note, it doesn't says "don't give me fabulous riches"...anything beyond my daily bread is likely to lead to trouble. A little wealth may not lead me to RENOUNCE God, but it is likely to lead me to depend on IT rather than God. Also, it may lead me to start to worship myself...mostly by introducing the idea that since I have generated wealth I must deserve ... a new car, a new house, a better type of fish or wine.
I'm not arguing for asceticism (thought there's a place for spiritual discipline) - we should enjoy God's blessings. But this ancient wisdom seems to suggest that maybe the best blessing of all is having "just enough".
Proverbs 30 (I know today is the 2nd, but following Tom's lead I'm finishing "February") says:
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
Note, it doesn't says "don't give me fabulous riches"...anything beyond my daily bread is likely to lead to trouble. A little wealth may not lead me to RENOUNCE God, but it is likely to lead me to depend on IT rather than God. Also, it may lead me to start to worship myself...mostly by introducing the idea that since I have generated wealth I must deserve ... a new car, a new house, a better type of fish or wine.
I'm not arguing for asceticism (thought there's a place for spiritual discipline) - we should enjoy God's blessings. But this ancient wisdom seems to suggest that maybe the best blessing of all is having "just enough".
Posted by William Clark on
Friday March 2, 2007 at 6:35am
Asceticism, far from being contrary to the enjoyment of God's material blessings, is the precondition of such joy. I mean by this, I must train myself to desire a life that is, to borrow from Proverbs, "neither poor nor rich." Asceticism teachings us to be at peace with"just enough."
I agree with everything you say. If it appears otherwise it is because I was careless with my language.
Bill