Knowing What You Want . . . Proverbs 30:7

Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die . . . Proverbs 30:7

I love people who can simplify life for me.  It is actually not difficult to make things difficult - people do it all the time.  They have a gift for taking something that should be simple - and making it incredibly complicated and hard to understand.  Then they charge you money to do what they have made difficult - since now you think there is no way that you can do it yourself.  If you are wanting the simple made difficult, this is not a proverb for you.  God has this proverb written to help us understand important life principles - and do so in two easy concepts.  In future posts I deal with the actual request - but this post I want to deal with the writer and his heart in making the request.

The writer here asks two things from God.  He has learned the blessing of economy in his relationship with God.  There are times for us to expand things out and look at multiple aspects of a live lived for God's glory.  and these two things are two principles we should remember to live a happy life and one that is founded on sound biblical footing.  This request is vital because the writer says here that these two things are things he does not want God to refuse him before he dies.  That is the last thing we can learn from this man - he is passionate about his request.

"Do not refuse me before I die!"  This is the way the writer expresses the intensity of his desire.  Lord, there are definitely two things I have to have.  I must have them before I die!  There is a passion here that often is missing in ordinary Christians.  This guy does not want to end his life without knowing and having walked out two things.  We later learn that these two things are to walk in the truth always - and to experience contentment.  As he seeks the Lord for these things, he does so with a hunger that is inspiring.  Too often in our lives we're not really sure what we're really going after and we are thinking about being committed to getting it - at least we're pretty sure that we are.  That is not what we see here.  We see a man that knows the importance of walking in truth - and walking with a contentment in what God has given him.  He knows one thing - that falsehood does not lead to a good end in life - and that running after this world does not either.  He is chasing after something much different and much more satisfying.  We learn by verse 9 that what he truly desires is to please and honor God.  He wants to live a life that acknowledges God and that will be pleasing to Him in the end. 

We so desperately need to embrace what this writer is expressing in our lives.  Do you know and can you enumerate a few things - no more than three that you absolutely have to have in life?  Is there a higher purpose for living in your life than just making it through life?  Are you bored - unchallenged by life and the goal for which you are living, or the lack thereof?  Make the time to get alone with God and hash out what really matters in your life.  Find in Him and in His purposes a reason to live!  Than, rather than just having life go by as you watch confused as to its purpose, you can go out every day and agressively give yourself to a purpose that goes far beyond life itself - it goes gloriously into eternity!