Proverbs 30

"If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor."

~Voltaire

Yesterday I was reading Proverbs 30 and I came across two passages that really challenged me. I really believe that they are something the American Church needs to hear, because I feel like growing up in it we have manipulated some of God's words into our own in order to justify our lives. In the words of Francis Chan we have created a "middle-class Jesus." We have created a Jesus that justifies our lives rather than a Jesus that gives us a new life.

Proverbs 30:5-6

⁵ Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Verse 6 really hit me hard when I started thinking about how we have added it God's words. That is being a false prophet. That is creating God in our own image. I don't mean to sound harsh because I struggle with this too since I am part of the church, but this needs to change. "Every word of God proves true," every single one not just the ones we like or the ones that justify our lives. It reminds of me of what Paul criticized the church in Corinth for in 1 Corinthians 4:7 "What do you have that did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" We take the gifts God has given us to bless others with, and we act is we did everything on our own.

I just watched Sam's video and I loved how he started it I'm going to steal from him and change the first word to fit into the context of what I'm saying. Receive (Take) Bless Break Give. This is how Jesus lived, but many times we stop at the first step. We receive and then we hold on and credit ourselves the accomplishment.

Proverbs 30:7-9

⁷Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
⁸Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
⁹lest I be full and deny you
and say, "Who is the LORD?"
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

I find this passage much more convicting and challenging. Do we pray like that? The only two things he asks for are being neither rich nor poor and for his daily bread and nothing more. That's a life that demands faith. Do our lives demand faith on a daily basis or can we get by not having to trust God for a single thing in one day?