Striving is like hitting potholes…

Prov 30 There is never just one pothole; they seem to go on over and over, making our ride bumpy and uncomfortable. Striving rather than being satisfied is much like that. Listen to the words of Agur in Proverbs 30. It is noted that his words are an oracle which is a burden that one is carrying or a divine utterance delivered to man, usually in answer to a request for guidance. Surely that latter definition fits here because Agur repeatedly asks God to help him because “he has not learned wisdom.” [Prov 30:3] That is a picture of one who humbly submits to God for guidance.

As the chapter progresses, we see his requests. He doesn’t want to strive for wealth because wealth can disappear in an instant. Instead, it is only through the words of God he will be purified. Agur advises others who are also facing similar situations that only God’s word is purified, tested, and proven genuine, just as Paul noted in  2Tim 3:16. The psalmist also recognized that. “Your instructions are totally reliable;” [Ps 119:160]. Finally, Agur also warns of adding to God’s divine inspiration. The Apostle John echoed those exact words in Rev 22:18.

This brings us to our question:  How is your ride today? Are you striving or satisfied with what God has given you? Do you seek God above all else?  

Potholes and Wisdom

Prov 30 Have you ever driven a city street only to feel your tire’s jarring as it fell into a pothole? Like a pothole, the writer, Agur bluntly said, “I am more brutish than any other human being…” I’ve got potholes in my wisdom. Perhaps you can relate to him. In God’s providence, Agur knew that there were three things more beautiful and four that he did not understand. There are three things that tremble in the earth and four that it cannot bear up.  Just like a road that has potholes that cause the bumps in our journey, so Agur’s understanding is lacking, and his potholes needed repair. He needed the nuggets of wisdom.

Agur saw himself as God saw him.  He concluded, wisely, he was not only NOT God! He didn’t even measure up to His standards!  So his first wise counsel was to take a long hard look at what potholes were on his road of life that needed fixing. He concluded just as the Preacher did: the true source of wisdom is God, who is in heaven, and we are on earth, therefore let our words be few. [Eccl 5:2] Keep short accounts with God lest you demean his holy name. Be sure to fulfill the commandment to honor your parents, so your days are long and profitable.

Let the light shine in your pothole, so you see what is lacking and ask God for that wisdom. In a nutshell, that is the wisdom from Agur.

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