How Do You Tell The Difference Between Needs and Wants? Proverbs 30:8

Some of our wants and needs are legitimate like food, clothing, and shelter. Some of our wants are things we think we need but don't.  How do you sort out the real need and the wants?

"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."  Proverbs 30:8-9.

PRAYER
This scripture is a prayer, and it is instructive that it asks God to help with falsehood and lies.  There are the falsehoods and lies that you may commit but you must be aware that you are the victim of falsehoods and lies.

Our world is full of falsehoods and lies.  The wise man does not want to speak falsely, but he does not want to hear the false either and be deceived.  The media tells you that you need something, but is it true?  Your own heart may tell you that you need something but that does not make it true.

GIVE ME NEITHER POVERTY NOR RICHES
Your foundation must be the truth that what you have comes from God.  If it is poverty or wealth both come from God.  To acknowledge this is the first step to understanding the difference between needs and wants.

BUT ONLY MY DAILY BREAD
This prayer asks God to give what is needed and only for the immediate, not a storehouse.  This becomes a daily or constant dependence on God.

TOO MUCH
There is nothing wrong with possessions; the danger is the "TOO MUCH" when we have an unhealthy amount of possessions.

Too much leads to the possibility of disowning the Lord.  If it makes you forget your dependence on God then you have too much.

To disown is to turn away and neglect your relationship with God, it is to reject God.

POOR
The danger of being too poor is the possibility of relying on your own resources to provide; you may be tempted to break the law, to steal, or do something dishonest to meet your physical needs.  This is a sin, but the greater danger of it is that it brings slander to the name of the Lord and his reputation.

This verse is an example which Jesus reinforced by his words in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread."  (Matthew 6:11). Pray daily for your needs and wants, and be honest with God- there is no safer course

(c) Adron 6/19/15

Why Be Content With Having Little Wealth? Psalm 37:16-17

The world is full of people; some are poor, and some are very rich. Maybe it would be nice to be one of the rich, but is that really better?

"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous." Psalm 37:16-17.

WHAT IT DOES NOT SAY
It does not say the wealthy wicked. Having material treasures is not a sin, and you are no more holy if you are poor. There are good rich people and bad ones, just as good poor people and bad ones.

BETTER THE LITTLE
If God has not given you riches, he may have given you better things, such as
     * Opportunities to grow in your faith.
     * Prayer answers as you bring your need to Him.
     * Freedom from the worries of wealth and ability to serve.
     * A closer walk with God since you are forced to trust him more.
     * More opportunities to minister to others freely.
     * Freedom to think more about The Lord and about eternal issues.
     * Money is only for this short life, but righteousness is forever.

WEALTH OF MANY
The verse contrasts the solo righteous person with many wealthy wicked. Not just the riches of one, but imagine the combined worth of all today's mega-rich. The little that the poor person has is better- if he is righteous before The Lord.

THE LORD UPHOLDS
To uphold suggest holding up someone, not just letting them lean on your shoulder, but to lift, so the one lifting has all the weight of the one being carried. It says our Heavenly Father is carrying us. He may uphold us in many different ways, not just finical but also emotionally. He may vindicate us before others, he may provide a miracle in a crisis, or he may give us peace as we go through trials.

RIGHTEOUS
Regardless of whether you are wealthy or poor, the important thing is to find righteousness. We need righteousness to stand before God. We are righteous because we come in faith to The Savior, confess our sins with repentance, and receive his forgiveness based on His death that pays for our sins.

In times of trial and testing, money does not uphold us, but the Lord does. Do not trust in wealth trust in the Lord.

(c) Adron 8/1/13

What The Bible Says About Sleeping In And Poverty

We want to sleep in and have days off, after all the media keeps telling us to take a break in one way or another. Is it a good thing to enjoy a lot of "me time?" Is there anything wrong in wanting a life of ease? Does the Bible say something about it?

"Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare." Proverbs 20:13. 

LOVE SLEEP
To love something is...
     * To think about it all the time,
     * It is your constant goal,
     * You can't wait for it,
     * You linger in its presence.
You may not actually spend days in bed but you are always wishing to be there it is the same- you love sleep.

THE METAPHOR
This metaphor is instructive. When you sleep your eyes are closed and you fail to see, you are doing nothing productive. So the metaphor suggests you do not see opportunities, you miss good use of your time, a chance to invest or work productively is missed.

GROW
To grow is normally a slow subtle process it is hard to observe from moment to moment. As time passes our poverty goes deeper and deeper, it doesn't happen overnight, or all of a sudden. Just as wealth grows slowly with investments so poverty slowly deepens with negligence.

STAY AWAKE
A wakeful person is alert. They know what is going on in their environment. A wakeful person is on guard and sees a chance to work overtime, a temp job, or an extra day.

This wakeful person is not tempted by amusements*, but is careful about recreation.

FOOD TO SPARE
A primary essential of life is food, and the one who does not love sleep not only has his need met he has extra to give away.

To have extra to share seems to be one of God's reasons for blessing us, it is not so we can hoard it but to spare it and give.

Days off and an occasional sleep in are OK as a reward for hard work  but when they become the normal habit of a lifestyle it leads to slow disaster.

* The word amusement comes from the French and means "To think not."

(c) Adron

Is It Always Good To Have Wealth?

Is it always a good thing to have a lot of money? What Does the Bible Say?

"Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil" Proverbs 15:16.

BETTER
Better means the best or preferred, better is more excellent or of higher quality. It may be something that has been tested and proved. If you have a choice the better choice is the one you should make.

FEAR OF THE LORD
     * This starts with honor and obeying God.
     * It is to know and understand the Lord.
     * It is to consider the Lord in our decisions and choices.
     * It is to respect God.

LITTLE
The Bible verse does not say what the little is. It is up to your values and situation. This little can be monetary, social, status, possessions or treasures.

GREAT WEALTH
Not just wealth but "Great Wealth." When something is great is it far above the rest. It is exceptional. This is the wealth that few people have ever had.

TURMOIL
Turmoil is extreme disasters as on every side and in different ways- all bad. Disasters, problems, loss, fear, and the things that wreck our lives still come with or without wealth. When things like these come you want God.

A CHOICE
If you have a choice it should be obvious. Wealth does not protect us or comfort us in loss. If you have turmoil your enjoyment of life, regardless of poverty or wealth, is diminished or taken away.

The fear of the Lord gives strength, comfort and confidence in times of disaster. The fear of the Lord is greater than great wealth because the Lord is the greater treasure.