Agur—a man wise enough to know that he doesn’t know it all! He says he is weary and worn out (Proverbs 30:1). He is not a man of prideful bravado. He says he is too stupid to be human and lacks common sense (Proverbs 30:2). He knows how prone he is to make mistakes. He says he has not mastered human wisdom, nor does he have knowledge of the Holy One (Proverbs 30:3). He is not an arrogant know-it-all, nor does he pretend to have figured out God. As I read this man’s testimony, I was struck by his two requests to God.
First, he prays for honesty. Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying… (Proverbs 30:7–8, ESV). Wow! A man praying to God for honesty. He wants every aspect of his life to be far from dishonesty. Given his admissions from the first three verses, I’d say he is well on his way. So often, the dishonesty that we fail to recognize is dishonesty with ourselves. We think of ourselves as something we are not, know more than we do, or deny reality.
Second, he prays for his needs to be met, nothing less, nothing more! …give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8–9, ESV) What a balanced prayer! Ultimately, what contentment and dependence in a sovereign God! What depth of wisdom to know that when riches increase, so does risk, stress, and sorrow. Yet, he is asking God to bless his labor—he isn’t waiting for a handout.
Hmm…there is something about this man I like. May these two requests be mine, too.
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Proverbs 30-31.