Give Me Neither Riches Nor Poverty

Would you call yourself an optimist or a pessimist? Lately, the news makes it hard to be the former. Inflation. Tariffs. Wars. Sluggish growth. Talk of a looming recession. Starting my career in such a climate, the weight of it is hard to escape. Fresh graduates send out countless applications with no response. Experienced workers are laid off after decades of service. Others cling to jobs they dislike, afraid that leaving might mean never finding another.

It’s not a simple decision, choosing a job. There are career prospects to weigh, personal hopes and expectations, responsibilities both present and future—not to mention work environment, culture fit, salary, and arrangements. And as I prepare for my career, deeper questions surface: What matters most to me? What do I need? What kind of job should I seek—in this economy? Most importantly, what does God want of me when choosing a career?

In the fog of considerations, worries, and decisions, I return again and again to Proverbs 30:8–9:

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

For me, this verse distills what I ought to seek: a job that does not take me away from God.

As Christians, we have wide freedom in our career choices. Scripture does not usually restrict our job options—except for what is sinful or against His will. Instead, we are called to live and work by biblical principles (1 Corinthians 10:31). That still leaves countless options “under the sun.” Some careers offer great wealth and status but demand a heavy price in time and health. Others may barely cover the bills. Yet, as the saying goes, “the devil is in the details.” A straightforward 9–5 can test faith as much as a role requiring Sunday shifts. The trial might come from a difficult boss, a toxic colleague, or a demanding client—pressures that tempt and wear down our resolve.

Ultimately, so much lies beyond our control: the economy, the workplace environment, the burdens we must carry, the future itself. But what remains in our control is how we choose to align our will and desires. To align with the world means disappointment and despair when things look pessimistic and don’t go our way. But to align with God is certainty and security even in the midst of seeming chaos.

My prayer remains clear: Lord, give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me food convenient for me—that my career may not become a hinderance to You.

I don’t know how my career will unfold or what job I will eventually hold. But unlike many of my friends, I am not concerned about finding a job in this economy. Rather I am concerned about the kind of job that allows me to keep growing in faith. And I know that if I seek and ask, God will provide exactly that.

So, I have nothing to fear. Surrendering that desire to Him brings a peace and comfort that is truly priceless.