“Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die:….”
Proverbs 30:7

Two unusual last requests! First, the person requests that falsehood and lying be removed far from him. For a moment just consider what an improvement it would be for all of us if all half truths were removed from us. Now think about all falsehoods and lying being removed from us. No longer would we be part of the problem … that is living in a world where lies are so easily dispensed. Just this week on the national scene, we have heard conflicting testimonies of opposing sides crying that the other is a liar. We have heard the “he said, she said” and the “he said, he said” witnesses. At the end we wonder, where is the truth in all of this? It would be wonderful not to be party to falsehoods and lying!

Second, the person desires neither to be wealthy nor poverty stricken. The person desires to have the food he needs, thus an adequate diet. Should the person be wealthy, it would be easy to have his hunger satiated to the point of “being full.” The person could then deny God and say “Who is the Lord?” Should the person be poor, he might steal and so profane the name of God. Being destitute and hungry, he might take food or money belonging to another to satisfy his own hunger. Being blessed to enjoy an adequate diet would guard the person from feelings of self-sufficiency or desperation that would lead to the sin of forgetting the One who “gives them their food in due season … and who opens His hand satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15-16)

It might be a good idea to include those two last requests with any others we may wish to present to God.

Prayer

O God, we do ask You to remove all falsehoods and lying from our lips. We also look to You to give us all our food in due season. We humbly ask that we may always enjoy an adequate diet, acknowledging our dependence upon You. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.