We all know someone, maybe even ourselves, who has wrestled with prayer. Perhaps you’ve encountered books that suggest a transactional relationship with God, a divine vending machine where fervent requests guarantee material rewards. My friend, in his frustration with such theology, used to throw these books – specifically those promising easy answers through prayer – against the wall. These were often texts filled with ideas suggesting you could “direct God’s attention to your greatest need” or that God’s memory needed jogging through repeated requests.
This kind of thinking, while perhaps stemming from a place of genuine desire, feels fundamentally flawed. The very idea of reminding an all-knowing, eternal being of our needs seems… well, humanly limited. God, the Ancient of Days, isn’t forgetful.
But this brings up a valid question that many grapple with: Is it truly okay to ask God for material things? On one hand, scripture seems to encourage persistent prayer. Paul urges us, “Do not be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Even Jesus, in the Lord’s Prayer, instructs us to ask, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). These passages seem to give a clear yes.
Yet, just verses prior in Matthew, Jesus also suggests a different perspective, hinting that constant asking, especially for material needs, might be misplaced. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). This creates a tension, a seeming contradiction.
In contemporary religious culture, prosperity theology thrives. Proponents of this belief system often preach that we should pray for wealth, health, and worldly success. They readily quote scriptures like, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives… Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?” (Luke 11:9-11). This is often interpreted as a divine blank check, especially for material blessings. Perhaps this is where the famous line, “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz,” comes to mind – a humorous, yet pointed, expression of this desire for divine material favor.
However, there’s a palpable superficiality to this prosperity-focused spirituality, one that risks missing the deeper essence of faith. Undeniably, God cherishes us as children and desires good things for us, much like any loving parent. But as beloved children, we are also called to mature. Like Jesus, our spiritual journey should be one of growth, reaching for increasingly profound connections with the divine – the spiritual, the heavenly, the holy. This is discipleship: learning to embody the spirit of Jesus.
The advocates of prosperity gospel often overlook a crucial point. Jesus’ encouragement to “Ask… seek… knock” wasn’t primarily about accumulating possessions, but about cultivating spiritual depth. He concludes, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). The true gift, the ultimate blessing, is not material wealth, but spiritual enrichment.
I believe God genuinely wants us to express all our needs in prayer, both big and small, material and spiritual. However, I also believe that as our relationship with God deepens, a sense of trust and contentment with our current circumstances, including our financial status, naturally grows. Our material desires diminish as our spiritual yearning intensifies. We begin to need less “Mercedes Benzes” and crave more of the Holy Spirit.
Think back to my friend who threw books. He spent extensive periods ministering in impoverished communities in Africa, Asia, and other regions. He also lived for three months among heroin addicts in European recovery houses – individuals at rock bottom, whose prayers arose from raw anguish and desperation. Their prayers for salvation took diverse forms: release from addiction’s grip, reconciliation with estranged families, and spiritual reconnection with the God they felt distant from. They prayed for miracles, and in many instances, their prayers were answered. The divine intervened. Something unexpected, inexplicable, and truly miraculous occurred.
For many globally, praying for material necessities is not about luxury but survival. Securing stable employment, providing food for their families, or obtaining basic healthcare for a sick child – these are prayers God undoubtedly wants to hear.
Yet, for many in more affluent nations, constantly petitioning God for material possessions, for that metaphorical Mercedes Benz, represents aiming far too low on the spectrum of divine blessings. As we mature spiritually, our focus should shift towards seeking a more vibrant experience of God’s presence and power actively working in our lives. We should pray for a profound connection with the Holy One, allowing the divine spirit’s dreams and desires for us to unfold – even the unexpected, the unexplainable, the supernatural.
May our prayers of petition lead us to a power that surpasses all expectations, overflowing from our lives and our communities, transforming individuals and the world around us. Let our ultimate prayer be, “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Rev. Orville James is a minister.
Thanks for reading!
