Prov 30:8b-10 “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.”
The Jewish people have long recognized that there are two extremes people can lean towards. One is to become a glutton – to lack any discipline in life, to stuff yourself on everything that life has to offer, to live only for the moment and think only of today and what will bring you the greatest pleasure right now. But the other extreme is to completely reject and refuse to enjoy the blessings that God has brought to you. I may have enough food to eat bc You (God) have blessed me with the ability to hold a job and pay my bills but I can’t eat it in good conscience bc people are starving. Therefore, I should be starving as well. To refuse to enjoy the blessings of God is just as big a sin as being focused only on the pleasures of life.
It is so easy in America to feel guilty bc there are so many in this world that are struggling and chances are most of us have a roof over our head, food in our pantry, and clothes in our closets. I’m not saying to ignore the pain of others or to not give to those who have less. If you’ve been blessed you are to bless others!! But while you are blessing others thank God for the blessings that He has given to you and enjoy them.
As much as you enjoy watching people delight in the gifts you give don’t you think the same is true of God? Delight in the gifts that He has given to you today – He may remove them tomorrow and replace them with new blessings. Yes, think of others who have less and be generous but it’s ok and appropriate to enjoy the blessings that God has given to you today.
May God bless us and give us neither riches nor poverty but our daily bread so that we do not have too much and disown God, but may we also not turn to stealing and so dishonor the Name of our God. May we bless as we have been blessed. And may we delight in God and the blessings that He has given to us this day!