‘Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.’ (v8) Proverbs 30:5–9
Learning to be satisfied with what one has is something Scripture encourages. It literally means to accept that what we have is enough. In a world where accumulation is the norm, it can prove difficult learning to be satisfied.
Yet in a world committed to accumulation, too often we find that some have far too much and others, not simply enough. It can be argued that to be satisfied is the equivalent of lacking ambition. However, as disciples, our ambition is to be transformed into a representation of God’s kingdom.
Transformed means, ‘to completely change the appearance or character of something or someone’, usually for the better. So, whilst I may remain physically recognisable with appearance never the focus for the transforming work of the Spirit how I react and initiate will be altogether different to how I behaved earlier in my life.
This is the transformational work of the Spirit; evident and quantifiable both by myself and by others. Our ambition is to become more like Jesus, with an ever-decreasing interest in what are secondary issues to God. Our wellbeing is realised as we grow to become more like Jesus day by day.
Our daily bread is being content with the knowledge that we are becoming more like Jesus, the inner transformation which is the true and lasting fruit of the gospel.
RELATED SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Jer. 32:36–44; Ezek. 36:22–36; Phil. 4:10–20; Heb. 13:1–17.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: What robs you of living contentedly today? What action will you take in inviting God to transform you?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, thank You that I am a new creation in Christ and that the old has passed away and the new has come. Amen.’ (2 Cor. 5:17)
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