Prayer and Money

Some folks question whether it’s okay to ask God for financial help. So first off, let’s dispel the notion that God doesn’t care about your money or that it’s wrong to pray about your finances. Nothing in the Bible says that.

If it’s important to you, it’s important to God. He wants to be a part of your life — your whole life. 

I John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Now, there are two key points in that verse. First, you can ask God for anything. 

Second, He will hear your prayer … if it’s according to His will. That’s where things get a bit trickier. How do we know what God’s will is for us, so that we can ask for things within it?

It’s critical to understand that throughout the Bible, God promises to meet your needs, not necessarily your wants and desires. If you feel a prayer has gone unanswered, you might be mistaking a need for a want.

So let’s make sure we understand the difference. A home and roof over your head is a need.  A want could be a four-bedroom house with 3 ½ baths, a downstairs rec room, a three-car garage, and a jacuzzi.  

Now, there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with any of those things if it’s God’s plan for you and your family.  Every circumstance is different and God’s plan for every family is different. The key is to find His will for your life and to learn to be content with what He provides, even when you see others in the neighborhood with more.  

1 Timothy 6 tells us, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Notice the Apostle Paul isn’t even asking for a house, just food and clothing so he can continue to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. We’re not saying you should take a vow of poverty and head into the mission fields, we're just trying to give you perspective.

Contentment and gratitude are important because God owns everything and He is our ultimate provider. John 3:27 says, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.”

We are simply His stewards, and as such, we’re expected to manage His resources according to His principles. If you’re not doing that, it’s a good place to start improving your financial picture. Otherwise, how can you expect God to provide more? 1 Corinthians 4:2 reads, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”