Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; 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.
— Proverbs 30:7-9

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall notThen Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
— Matthew 19:23-30

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Daily Bread
By Jennifer Kane

A man with his wealth felt secure,
Yet his heart grew both proud and unsure.
He whispered, “I’m fine,”
But forgot the Divine—
For riches can never endure.

Another knelt low and would pray,
“Lord, give what I need for today.
Not riches nor lack,
But grace on my track,
To trust You and walk in Your way.”

Each morning new mercies are spread,
By hands that ensure I am fed.
My treasure is this—
My Savior’s sweet bliss,
Content with my daily bread.

~~~~~

Scripture: Proverbs 30:7-9, Matthew 19:23-30

The world tells us to chase more — more money, more comfort, more control. Yet the more we grasp, the emptier our hands feel. Our hearts know that real security isn’t found in what we can hold, but in who holds us.

Agur’s prayer in Proverbs is so refreshingly honest. He doesn’t ask for luxury, nor for suffering, but for daily bread — just enough to keep him humble, thankful, and dependent on God. He recognizes the dangers at both ends of the spectrum:
“If I have too much, I might forget You.”
“If I have too little, I might dishonor You.”

That balance — to live in trust, not excess or fear — is the heart of true contentment.

When Jesus met the rich young ruler, that proverb came to life. The man had followed the rules but not surrendered his heart. His wealth had become his safety net, his identity, his idol. And Jesus, in love, asked him to let it go — to trade temporary riches for eternal treasure.

It’s not that money itself is evil, but that wealth can quietly teach us to depend on ourselves. It whispers, “You’re fine without God.” And that’s the danger Jesus warns about. For it’s not riches that keep us from heaven — it’s the heart that refuses to let go.

When the disciples heard this, they were stunned. In their culture, wealth was seen as a blessing from God! But Jesus flipped that idea upside down. He reminded them — and us — that salvation isn’t about what we have or can do. It’s only by God’s power that hearts are changed.

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Only God can loosen our grip on the temporary and draw us toward eternal life. Only He can transform our fear of not having enough into faith that He will provide.

Peter’s words echo our own hearts: “We have left everything to follow You!” And Jesus’ promise gives us peace — that nothing surrendered to Him is lost. Every act of faith, every sacrifice, every step of trust is met with abundance in God’s family and an eternal reward that cannot fade.

So today, may our prayer be like Agur’s — humble, steady, full of faith: “Give me only my daily bread.”

Not because we fear the future, but because we trust the Father who provides.

~~~~~

Heavenly Father, give us neither poverty nor riches, but hearts that depend on You. Teach us to be content with our daily bread and to trust You for tomorrow. Forgive us for the times we’ve leaned on our own strength or measured our worth by what we own. Jesus, we confess that apart from You, we cannot save ourselves. Do the impossible within us — free us from greed and fear, and fill us with gratitude and peace. Holy Spirit, guide us to walk in contentment and to find our true treasure in You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

October 10, 2025