I like Agur! He's found in today's readings in Proverbs, in chapter 30. My Bible footnotes call him "graduate school." He's for those who think they have succeeded in applying all the wisdom found in chaps 10-29. Agur says, after all these chapters of wisdom on poverty/riches, righteousness/wickedness, wisdom/foolishness, etc. -- "I have NOT learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One."

I really think it's true that the wiser we become (with age?) the more we realize how foolish we are. The wiser we become, the more easily we detect how fickle and self-centered we can be. The wiser we become, the more "righteous" we become (thought of as spiritually mature), the more we realize how far from Godliness we are.

Despite his recognition that he hasn't really become very wise, Agur says in verses 8-9: "Remove me far from falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God."

Here is REAL wisdom. After chapters of wisdom comparing the rich and the poor, in which it is generally agreed that to be poor is bad, Agur realizes that it is not good to be EITHER rich or poor. Both have their traps. Both can lead us away from God. What I really appreciate is Agur's realization of the danger of riches. When we are full, when our appetites are satisfied, when we are getting our own way, then we forget God. We think WE did it.

I remember how much prayer and appealing to God was on the news in the days right after 9/11. Even news media were referring to it. (I remember one particularly odd outburst on the day of 9/11 by CNN's Judy Woodward about turning to God, however one understands Him. It sounded like SHE was groping for God, but she didn't know how. I may have been wrong, but it struck me that way.) There were national day of prayer services -- and people CAME! Church attendance soared. We had a need for God. But then came the invasion of Afghanistan. And military victory soon after. We were satisfying ourselves. Church attendance dropped. No more talk of prayer. "We've got it now, God. Sorry to have disturbed you!"

At least it's good to know that this kind of foolishness has been around a very long time!