小時候讀過很多童話故事，都圍繞在人生何求的主題上。有一個故事講述兩兄弟在河邊求一柄斧頭，弟弟只求他不小心掉進河裡的舊斧頭，而哥哥則求一個金斧頭，不是他先前有意掉到河裡的舊斧頭。你不一定讀過這個故事，但一定能猜到故事的結局。童話故事是很真實的，因為它們經常在現實人生中出現。
人生的智慧往往反映在我們對生活的所求或所不求上面。亞古珥對他的人生也有兩個祈求，顯出了他深刻的智慧。他求神給他正直的心，忠實於神的話語，不要因為私慾而扭曲聖經的教訓。他更求神不要讓他貧窮，也不要讓他富有，因為他要以神為他人生的至寶。
亞古珥的祈求不單顯出他的人生智慧，也表現出他的勇敢和信心。他祈求不要貧窮是人之常情，因為生存是很現實的。他不要為了現實的需要影響他屬靈的生命。他祈求基本生活的滿足，使他有時間追求屬靈生命的豐富。我想，這也是我們今天很大的提醒。
他的勇氣卻表現在祈求不要富有之上。懂得求什麼，固然顯出一個人的智慧來；但懂得求不要些什麼，更需要極大的智慧和勇氣。亞古珥祈求神不要讓他富有，這在今天的社會價值觀中是一件不可意義的事，即使是基督徒也不一定明白，不一定認同。當然亞古珥不要富有是有更深刻的原因的，並不是單單厭惡財富。亞古珥明白屬靈生命比物質生活更重要，因為前者才是幸福之源。他的智慧就顯在這個選擇上：他不要選擇次好而滿足，他要選擇最好的，即使要放棄次好的也不在乎。
請大家在這星期再讀一次箴言三十章一至九節，想思你要向神為自己的人生和生活求些什麼。
When I was little I had read a lot of stories and found out that many of those stories had a common theme, which was making life decisions. There was a story talking about two brothers. The little brother had dropped his old rusty axe into the river and prayed that he could get it back. The older brother, on the other hand, was praying for a golden axe even though he had intentionally dropped an old rusty axe. When we read these stories sometimes we find them so true that they actually happen in the real life.
Wisdom in life always finds its expression in our every day life decisions. Agur has two wishes and his prayer demonstrates his profound wisdom in life. He asks God to give him a truthful heart that he will handle God’s word faithfully, and won’t abuse the biblical teachings to justify his desires. He also asks God not to make him poor nor rich, because he gives God his highest priority in life.
Agur’s prayer reveals not only his wisdom but also his courage and faith. He asks God not to make him poor. His request is quite understandable for it is a real need. However, he also understands that real need sometimes will hinder us to pursuit our spiritual needs, and he chooses to minimize his physical needs to give room to enrich his spiritual life. I think he really gives us an important advice.
But his courage is expressed in his choice of not being rich. Knowing what to ask will reflect a person’s wisdom, but on the other hand, knowing what not to ask needs even greater wisdom and courage. Agur asks God not to make him rich, which is quite unthinkable in our society. I think even Christians may not necessary understand Agur or share his attitude. Agur does not want to be rich has deeper meaning, and it is not just some common criticism on rich people. Agur is convinced that spiritual richness is more important than material wealth. It is the former that will truly give him happiness. His wisdom expressed in this choice: to choose the best, even if he has to give up the second with no hesitation.
I encourage you to read Proverbs 30:1-9 again this week, and meditate on the things that we want to ask from God.
