Two things have I required of thee

Tucked in the penultimate chapter of Proverbs is the simple yet profound prayer of Agur son of Jakeh. While we know little about Agur himself, his humility and reliance on God is evident from his declaration (Prov 30:2,5-6). Following this, we have his request:

“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Prov 30:7-9).

A deliberate prayer for less

Agur’s prayer is not a list of vague wishes, but a precise, intentional request. He shows us the wisdom of deliberation in prayer. Before we speak, it is wise to consider what we truly need, and what we genuinely desire from God. Agur’s preface demonstrates this thoughtful preparation, surprisingly narrowing his requirements to only two (“less is more!”). 

His request also carries a layer of urgency. He prays with death in mind, with eternity in his view. He knows life is short, and the pursuit of a perfect relationship with God cannot be postponed. What matters most is not how much he gained, but how faithful he remained. Time is fleeting, the end is nigh, and the solemn urgency in his petition reminds us to seek what is essential now. So, according to Agur, what are the two most important things we need from God before we die?

Grace sufficient

Agur’s first request was “Keep falsehood and lies far from me.” Before asking for anything related to his physical life, he pleads for the sanctification of his soul. He didn’t ask for his problems to disappear; rather, he asked God to take away his sins. 

In a practical light, we can understand “falsehood and lies” to mean the vanities and deceitful allure of life with empty promises that lead us away from God. It is not the lack of possessions that ultimately destroys us, but the lies we believe and the emptiness we chase. Thus, Agur pleads for God’s grace to remove his sin and keep him from these mischievous vanities of life; echoing, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matt 6:13).

Food convenient 

Agur’s second request is perhaps more famous and may be a tad puzzling. “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” This is a prayer for a middle way, a state of life which would not become a temptation to him. Crucially, Agur is not dictating to God what his life should be, but rather offering a humble acknowledgement of his own weakness. He provides his reasons, more for our benefit than as an explanation to God, for desiring such a path. 

Firstly, he dreads the temptation of prosperity. When we are self-sufficient and have more than enough resources, it is alarmingly easy to forget our Maker. We become proud and believe our success is a result of our own wisdom and effort. Agur recognized this and chose to be reliant on God rather than risk abundance that could lead to separation from the Provider of all good things.

Secondly, he dreads the temptation of poverty. When driven by hunger or extreme lack, we are prone to desperate or irrational acts. Again, Agur recognizes this; however, his concern is not primarily about the consequences of his actions in the world, but about dishonoring God. His genuine fear is that a desperate act would bring shame upon his faith, discrediting and tarnishing the Holy Name of the one he calls “my God.”

Put together, Agur’s reasoning for “food convenient” is a prayer for “just enough”; a state that fosters a spirit of contentment and daily dependence on God, while perfectly balancing the extremes of temptation. He fears not poverty or riches themselves, but the sins that accompany them. His greatest concern is dishonoring God. He doesn’t ask for luxury, nor does he want to be crushed by lack. Instead, he prays for sufficiency; enough to live faithfully in God. This too finds its echo in Christ’s teaching: “Give us today our daily bread.” (Matt 6:11).

We live in a world obsessed with “more” - more money, more recognition, more success. But Agur reminds us that “more” can actually make us forget the Giver. And while poverty brings its unique struggles, even there, God’s grace sustains. 

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps 121:2).

The prayer of Agur teaches us to pray with intentionality, position our heart towards holiness, prioritize our spiritual well-being over our material state, and trust that God’s provision is perfectly tailored for our sanctification. It benefits us all to incorporate Agur’s prayer in our daily petition to God, who provides our needs and gives us the wisdom to know what we require and what is enough. Let us walk through life with a conscious decision: to honor His glorious Name at every step of the way. Amen!