Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

(Proverbs 30:8b–9 NIV)

Linda was on vacation and decided to try her luck at the slot machines. It was her first time in a casino, and she had no idea how anything worked. She spotted an employee nearby and asked, “Excuse me, how does this work?”

The worker patiently showed her how to insert her money, push the spin button, and pull the handle. Then she asked, “And where does the money come out?”

With a smile, he pointed across the room and said, “Usually at the ATM.”

That’s the thing about gambling and most “get rich quick” schemes. They promise big rewards with little effort, but the reality is usually the opposite. As the saying goes, “The house always wins.” The one getting rich isn’t you.

And yet, the temptation is real.  The lure of quick money, easy gains, and instant gratification is as old as time. Paul warned us, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare…” (1 Timothy 6:9 NIV).

Money itself isn’t evil. But our desire for it can pull us into some dangerous places. That’s why Jesus spent so much time not just talking about money, but our attitude toward it. He knew how easily we could start chasing wealth instead of the one who provides it.

Solomon prayed a beautifully balanced prayer in Proverbs 30.  He didn’t ask for extreme wealth or extreme poverty.  He asked for just enough.  Enough to avoid the temptation of stealing, but not so much that he might forget his need for God.

That’s a prayer we would be wise to echo. It’s not about being rich or poor — it’s about being content. True security comes from God, not our bank account.

So, may you be blessed.  But may you never be so full that you forget your daily need for the Giver of all good things.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to be content. Help me trust you more than I trust money.  Keep me from the traps of greed and give me a grateful heart for all you provide. May I never forget that every good thing comes from you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day
alansmith77 on July 28, 2025