Day 6: Upward for the prudent
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me…” (Genesis 14:22-24).
Great God of splendor and majesty, from Your providential hand come all things for life and sustenance—You make grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts (Psalm 104:14-15).
You are the ultimate source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)—it is God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17). We know that it is You who work through intermediaries such as jobs, businesses, investments, gifts, and countless other sources. And in all we receive You call us to integrity, and wisdom, and discernment, for the path of life leads upward for the prudent (Proverbs 15:24).
The Lord Jesus issued a strong warning to His disciples and to us, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). But sometimes the temptation to greed can be so insidious!
Teach us to recognize all kinds of greed. Show us the areas in our individual and our collective lives—and in our corporate structures—where we are dependent on any other but You. Give us the vision and clarity of Abram (later Abraham) who recognized the trap of an undesirable or even dangerous obligation to the king of Sodom. O God, show us our areas of compromise, our unholy alliances, and our dangerous obligations.
You are for us, as You were for Abraham, our exceedingly great reward (Genesis 15:1 - NJKV). Lead us away from temptation that would cause us to put our trust in any other source. Lead us away from circumstances that would create mastery over us—circumstances that would create the perception that anyone but You made us rich (Genesis 14:22).
By the power of Your Holy Spirit, help us to put to death the things that belong to our earthly nature—the lust, evil desires, and greed (which is idolatry) (Colossians 3:5)—the things that lure us into unwise alliances, compromise, and dishonesty. Teach us to trust Your providence and Your provision.
Teach us the trust, contentment, and gratitude expressed by David, Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6).
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