Give Me Just Enough

“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 NLT

The other day over my lunch break I read multiple articles from the New York Times on how to live in New York City on a budget. It was fascinating to me the comforts they did without in order to live there, the second jobs people had. They were looking for just enough.

When I was in college, I prayed a lot for this second favor from the Lord from Proverbs: to have just enough money. (I suppose I can blame these prayers for why I’m not a millionaire.) 

College and grad school for me were seasons of seeing God clearly provide, while I patched together 2-4 part time jobs to pay the bills. Another medical bill? Another small freelance job. The lease ended with one roommate, I found a different house to live in. That job ended or wasn’t a good fit? A different one was provided, usually at the last second before I completely despaired. I had a mentor who called it God providing my manna, just like the Israelites, enough food and sustenance for one day. No more, no less. I couldn’t make long term plans and always added up my groceries at the store in my head while I shopped. 

I think it’s easy for the rich to deny God and forget that every good gift comes from him. It’s easy to see your new car as coming from your money and hard work. On the other hand, how easy and understandable to insult God when you don’t have enough to live off of. In reality, everything we have comes from God, and there are lean and richer seasons in most of our lives. 

Reflect: Do you feel like God has provided enough for you? Or do you feel like you forget where all money and provisions come from? For those of you who have enough, are you giving freely back to the church and other non profit organizations?

Prayer: God, giver of all good gifts, give us enough to satisfy our financial needs. Provide to satisfy the needs of our church. Provide for our spiritual and emotional needs also. Come and meet us where we are with what we need for today. Let us always depend upon you. Amen. 

May you experience God’s Presence,
Sarah Visser-Kincaid