Matthew 7:7-12
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12
This is a section of Christ’s teaching that needs prayer and close reading to accurately understand. To simply pull these 6 verses from the whole of the Bible can lead to much misunderstanding and frustration. For example. I like cars and have always battled in faith God’s will for what I drive verses Corey’s. If I were to buy what I want today to replace my current auto I could easily spend 90k plus. I don’t have 90k plus to spend on a new auto. If I were to pull this section of the text up along side my a-la-carte GMC build sheet and pray “Father you say to ask and it will be given unto me. You hold all power and I would like a new SUV” I would be wrongfully using Jesus’ words.
Within a modern context our western minds read Jesus’ words through a materialistic lens. Jesus’ audience would be more concerned about where the next meal would come from vs. the next upgrade of their iPhones and at the heart of Jesus message is the provision God offers to men and women to live lives that honor Him and pursue their days for the building of His kingdom.
If I am not careful I can make Jesus’ message all about me. However, if I consider that just a few passages earlier Jesus had taught how a person should pray in humility. If I consider how Jesus just a few sentences earlier had warned about the storing of the earthy vs. the storing of God’s Kingdom’s wealth. Then with a proper mindset I can see the true hope Jesus revels in this passage.
God is faithful to the just. His promises are eternal and provides what we need when we need it. His blessing are abundant. He loves us so much His promise is to provide for our needs before our wants!
I am thankful God does not leave us to ourselves because if it were simply up to us can you imagine the mess we would find ourselves in? I personally would have a massive car payment leveraging my time, talents, generosity, etc. Jesus reveals that God is an active and loving Father that desires to hear our desires and is faithful to provide in proper time and with true blessing in our lives.
So I leave you with this thought? Am I wrong to pray for a new SUV? I would answer through the teaching of the scripture no. However, what is wrong would be why am I praying for an SUV? Would this SUV be a strategic tool in aiding the reflection of Christ through my life, home, church, and community or would this shiny thing in my garage be more for the building up of my kingdom? If the new truck furthers God’s plan then I truly believe God will provide however if I am saturated in selfish wants and desires then I believe Jesus is clear that is not what this passage promises.
