Today, I am reading and commenting on Proverbs 29-31.

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First, I want to repeat something I have said each of the last few days.  Read the passage, pick one or two of the sayings in it, and meditate on them.

As I read the first verse in today’s passage I am unsure if it is a warning to us against refusing to listen to correction, or if it is a warning against excessively telling others that they are making mistakes.  I suspect it is a little of both.  On the one hand it warns us that if we refuse to listen to correction when we do wrong, we will eventually become unable to do wrong.  On the other hand, if we constantly berate someone for every little thing mistake they make, eventually they will be broken and unable to do anything well.  Along the same idea, the writer warns us that it is not enough to give instructions to those who are subordinate to us, whether servants, employees, or children.  We must make sure that there are consequences to not following, and to following, our instructions.  If our instructions are followed there should be positive consequences and if they are not, there need to be negative consequences.  If there are no consequences for not following the rules, the rules will not be followed.

Chapter 30 says that it is the words of Agur.  Agur tells us that God’s words are true and will shelter us if we turn to Him.  However, he also tells us not to attribute our own thoughts as being the words of God.  It will not end well for anyone who does so.  The most important part of what Agur tells us is in his prayer to God.  He asks for two things.  First he asks God to keep him far from falsehood and lying.  In asking for those two things, Agur covers all forms of dishonesty and deception.  We should ask the same of God as Agur did here.  Dishonesty and deception cannot lead to anything good.  But the second thing Agur asks for shows great wisdom and humility.  He asks God to give him enough for his needs, but to not make him wealthy.  For, if God made him wealthy he might begin to think he does not need God and thus turn away from Him.  On the other hand, if God allows him to become poor, he might dishonor God in order to satisfy his needs.  Let the same be our prayer.

Lord, give me enough for my needs, but not so much that I begin to believe that I accomplished it on my own.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.