TEXT: PROV. 30:7-9
''Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:/Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:/Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain''
To the words, '...lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.' we now turn. In these words, the basic and common snare in poverty is discovered. Poverty, basically, is a state of lack and want; it leaves a natural man disposed or inclined to taking that which is another's: he that is hungry, looks for food; when naked, he looks to be clothed. Poverty is a great evil and weapon in the hand of the devil: where it exists, robbery and extortion are present. Where poverty reigns, the name of God may be taken in vain: God is dishonoured and grieved; for poverty inclines a man to throwing to the wind piety and caution. It is great grace that keeps a man unstained in the midst of want and lack. To those whom God has helped, absence of riches does them no harm. The venoms in both riches and poverty are removed, where grace reigns. He who has seen the true riches in Christ, saddens not himself for want of earthly goods and riches! Grace restrains the rich from denying God; and the poor from dishonouring the name of God! Lazarus has no companion save dogs, yet angels coveyed him into the bosom of Abraham: a man can be in the state of grace and still have empty stomach and purse! Poverty is no excuse for sin, for we have examples of saints, though poor, but highly godly: witness Job and Lazarus. These examples and many others have removed from all men any ground of making poverty a ground for living in the state of ungodliness. To be continued.