Proverbs 30b

 Agur, whoever he is, has properly and humbly introduced himself as wise only because God has given him a gift. God has given him some insight into the ways of mankind. Knowing the temptations that human beings succumb to, Agur asks for some guardrails to keep him on the right path.

30: 7-9. Two things I ask of you;

     do not deny them to me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

    feed me with the food that I need,

lest I be full and deny you

     and say, “Who is the LORD?”

or I be poor and steal

     and profane the name of my God.

 Death will bring clarity about life. However, Agur asks for some help to see his way clearly while he is alive. So, he asks for two things from God; so might we all.

 First, he asks to be removed or distanced from falsehood and lying. My, Oh my! Where do I start here? In Agur’s time he might have been thinking of gossip, deceit, or treachery. Falsehood is all around, and lying to get an edge on someone else is as old as the hills. 

  An earlier proverb established this.

"Lying lips conceal hatred, and whoever utters slander is a fool” (10: 18).

 So, how could God remove Agur from falsehood and lying? Perhaps by leading him out into the desert to live alone as a hermit? Maybe, but not everyone can or should do this. Where would family be? Where would society be? Yes, there is falsehood and lying in both, but can we remove falsehoods by total isolation from others? Probably not, seeing that we are able also to deceive ourselves. 

 Perhaps God will give Agur discernment. Remember that gift, the ability to see through false claims? Where are the ‘fact checkers’ when you need them? The first step is also a rule of life for Treebeard in Lord of the Rings: Don’t be hasty. Don’t be gullible. Take a step back and get some perspective.  

 The second step is to do your own research. See what has been written. See what other people think. Pray about it. There isn’t a claim out there that is as simple as people make it sound. Life is complex. As soon as people start labeling and try to make claims about ‘immigrants’, ‘Jews’, ‘Black people’, ‘big business’, ‘unions’, or even ‘the rich’ and ‘the poor’; you know you are hearing a falsehood. Life is more nuanced than that. 

 The third step is to be cautious. Wolfhart Pannenberg, great German theologian, said that all knowledge of God was ‘provisional’ and ‘anticipatory’. Why? Because we haven’t yet come to the end of all things when Jesus will return and God will make his home on earth (See Revelation 21 and 22). Then we will know as we are known.     

 Agur’s second request is interesting. He asks not to be made too rich nor too poor. We all imagine that winning the lottery to the tune of several million dollars would be a good thing. Would it? Lots of sad stories out there. Is it not the rich who are more likely to think that they deserve such wealth? If so, then where is God in it?

 The prophet Nathan came to David with a story. He said that a rich man with many flocks of sheep was still reluctant to take one of his own sheep to make a meal for a visitor. Nearby was a poor man who had but one sheep, an ewe that he took good care of because it was his only possession. The rich man took that one ewe from the poor man to butcher it for dinner. 

The text says that “David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man” (II Samuel 12: 5-6). He made a severe judgment against the rich man and expected Nathan to carry it out. Nathan looked directly at David and said, “You are the man! …You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and you have taken his wife to be your wife….” The prophet reminded David that God had given him the kingdom and his own wives, but still David wanted what he could not have. Such is often the behavior of the rich and powerful. 

 Extreme riches and extreme poverty both can bring out the worst in a man or woman. Agur asks for neither, but rather just enough food and necessities for the day. That is not far from what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. Do not overly worry about tomorrow. God cares for the birds of the air, God will care for you. 

 Do not be hasty in believing news or gossip; a careful discernment and a good dose of the Holy Spirit will keep you from the harm of falsehoods and lies. Do not pursue more wealth than you need, nor fail to help others who are in extreme need. Be a good example of one who is content with today’s provisions. In that way, you will not forget and ask, “Who is the LORD?,” nor lie and scheme to defraud your neighbor. Instead, let your voice praise the Lord and let your hands help your neighbor.