When we look through Scripture, it becomes clear that there are certain expectations God has of His children. He wants us to trust in Him. He wants us to obey Him. He wants us to speak of Him. He wants us to find rest in Him. In general, He wants our faith to blossom from infancy to maturity.
There are multiple marks of spiritual maturity that are useful to observe, but one of the most obvious marks of maturity, at least in my opinion, is the fact that those who grow spiritually mature tend to become highly aware of God's presence. They notice His hand at work all around them. They're continually thinking about the fact that He is with them. They don't treat Him like He's off at a distance.
The unbelieving world has no concept of this worldview. If they're even willing to entertain the thought that God exists, they certainly aren't living like He's near. But for those who understand the gospel and rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ took on flesh, dwelt among us, and promises to be with us always, we can become highly aware of God's presence and live with the confidence that He's near.
Look with me at how an awareness of God's presence impacted the thinking and the faith of Agur, the writer of Proverbs 30.
I. How conscious are you of God's holiness?
The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.
The man declares, I am weary, O God;
I am weary, O God, and worn out.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. (Proverbs 30:1-3)
Up to this point in our study of Proverbs, we've been looking at thoughts that were communicated by Solomon, but the end of the book incorporates the words of others as well, including Agur. People speculate who he may have been. Some even suggest that these were also the words of Solomon, but the truth is, none of us knows who Agur was. The little we know about him is included in this chapter of Proverbs.
One thing that can be said of Agur was that he was conscious of God's holiness. He could clearly see a difference in God's abilities and man's abilities. He understood that God is distinct from His creation.
This proverb begins in a very interesting manner. Agur doesn't boast or brag about himself. He doesn't list his credentials or accomplishments. In fact, he practically demeans himself as he takes a close examination of his life, and he contrasts his motives and struggles with God's holiness.
Agur speaks of himself as being weary and worn out. He says he lacks understanding and wisdom, and he seems to be implying that the knowledge He has of God is just a drop in the bucket compared to all there really is to know about God.
I think there's a lot we can learn from Agur's opening statements. While I don't think this Scripture is encouraging us to demean ourselves, I certainly think it's demonstrating the importance of being conscious of God's holiness. The more conscious we are of His holiness, the more visible our inherent sinfulness becomes to us. And as we grow aware of our sinfulness, we begin to see our need for Jesus to bridge the gap between us and the Father. Amazingly, as that gap is bridged by Jesus, He doesn't leave us in our sin. Through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, we are made holy as well, and we're transformed into men and women who better reflect the heart of God.
II. Do you appreciate what only God can do?
Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son's name?
Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:4)
When I was in ninth grade, my father and my uncle partnered together to buy a new, larger grocery store. It was much bigger than the stores they owned previously, and it required a lot more manpower to run. Frequently, other family members were recruited to assist, including me and my grandfather.
One Saturday, my grandfather and I were working together to create new, circular display stands to put on the end cap of a dry good aisle. I kept looking at the wood wondering how we were going to make these things perfectly circular. Then I watched my grandfather step into action. He took a thin piece of wood, nailed it into the center of the plywood, then put another nail into the other end of that board, but only had the very tip poke through. Then he swung it around and etched the outline of a perfectly shaped circle into the wood. I was highly amazed and impressed that he knew how to do that.
When I look at this passage of Scripture, I can see that Agur was highly impressed with the work of the Lord. There are things that only God can do, and Agur felt compelled to acknowledge that fact. His words are reminiscent of the words the Lord spoke to Job in Chapter 38 of his book.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7)
All this makes me wonder if we truly appreciate the work the Lord is doing. Are we in awe of Him? Do we give Him the credit He deserves? Can we trace His hand at work throughout the course of our lives to lead us in certain ways, open certain doors for us, introduce us to the people we're supposed to meet, and equip us to do things that are far beyond our natural abilities to do?
III. Are you confident that God's word is true?
Every word of God proves true;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6)
As Agur continued to contemplate God's nature and abilities, He expressed His confidence in the word of God. He made the assertion that every word that comes from the mouth of God is eventually proven true. He cautioned us not to add to His words or try to distort what the Lord had communicated. We're called to trust that the revealed word of God is accurate and reliable.
I have to say, one of the best advantages the Lord has given me is the blessing of having grown up in a Bible-teaching church and then attending a university that was likewise faithful to Scripture. The combination of those two factors, plus several others, helped me develop a deep respect for the teaching of Scripture at an early age. I'm grateful that our church gets to be a link in that chain as well as we seek to instill confidence in the teaching of God's word, because His word is true and is abundantly useful to accomplish deep and meaningful things.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
IV. What are you requesting from God?
Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
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 30:7-9)
In Proverbs 30:7-9, Agur openly prays to the Lord. He makes some specific requests, but his requests aren't like the kinds of things most people are requesting of God. Agur makes requests that show that he's thinking on a deeper level, with more maturity than many people express in their times of prayer.
Agur prays that he wouldn't deny the Lord through his words or through his lifestyle. He requests that falsehood be kept from him. He asks the Lord to help him to be content with his needs being met instead of drifting toward poverty or riches. That's a great prayer!
It makes me wonder what we're currently praying for. Are we seeking contentment or greed? Are we seeking God's glory or the absence of discomfort? The truth is, if we have Jesus, we already have what we need most, and Scripture invites us to be content in Him. So, what are you requesting of God?
When you're close to your children, one of the hardest realities to accept is the fact that as they get older, they may go through a season when they don't seem as close to you as they once did, or they may even seem disinterested in a relationship with you in some way. But frequently, as they progress into the next stages of their lives, they often begin to reinvest time in their relationship with you, recognizing the value of a healthy parent/child relationship.
I think our relationship with the Lord sometimes looks that way too. During seasons of less maturity, we pull away, but as we grow, we learn to value His presence and seek to have time with Him.
As those who have been rescued and redeemed by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, let's dedicate our lives to the same motive that dominated Agur's thinking. Let's become highly aware of God's presence and commit ourselves to living in close communion with Him.
© John Stange, 2021
