'Hmmm . . . given those two extremes, that's hard to argue with. But Proverbs offers another perspective: "Don't give me either poverty or
wealth; give me just the food I need, or I'll be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I'll be poor and steal and dishonor my God's name."

'Could it be that Jesus has in mind this very text when he says in the Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread"? In other words, Jesus is praying for moderation: "Lord, give me enough in life, but not so much that I lose my sense of dependence on you. Supply me with sufficient resources to satisfy legitimate needs, but not  such overabundance as to imagine myself full apart from you. Grant me freedom from worry about necessities, but not so much so as to place my ultimate security anywhere except in you."

'Imagine, the Bible commending moderation! And yet, indeed, the quality of our life largely depends on everyday, routine, and predictable faithfulness. The clerk who gives good, attentive service; the mechanic who provides honest, competent work; the spouse, the parent who attends to day-in, day-out provision for their family.

'There will be other days, other devotions to consider the radically upended life; Jesus has a lot to say about that too. But today perhaps we can be content with a refreshing word in praise of the middle way. After all, that's where we mostly live.

'Lord, you know my true needs. Grant provision today sufficient to sustain my reliance on you. Amen.'

Written by Thomas C. Rook