Praying about money is often uncomfortable. Feelings of greed and inadequacy can be ignited. Guilt can generate thoughts of failure.
We start asking ourselves some tough questions.
Do I really need more money? Or am I simply incompetent in managing money? Why am I having these financial issues? Am I being greedy?
Praying about money is perfectly fine as long as we pray biblically. We must pray according to the will of God and with the proper motive. We must also willingly accept His answer no matter what. Contrary to popular belief God always reserves the right to tell us “no” when we pray.
Many years ago my wife and I would take our paychecks and pray a “loaves and fishes” prayer. At this time in our life, money was scarce, debts were abundant, and stress was out of control.
We never questioned if praying about money was wrong or considered it bad form.
Desperate times called for desperate measures — and we were desperate!
Is it okay to pray about money?
God invites us to ask Him for many things. Often, there are situations where only He can help us. If He does not intervene then we will sink.
Let’s take some time to discover what the Bible says about praying for money.
What Did Jesus Say About Praying About Money
Jesus instructed us to pray for our daily sustenance in what is known as the Lord’s Prayer.
Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread
Praying for money is neither sinful nor out of line.
Praying According to the Will of God
Knowing the will of God can be confusing at times. We all falter during difficult situations and often wonder if the pain and agony are God’s will. When things are financially challenging it’s convenient to automatically believe that the pain is His will.
Perhaps it is and perhaps it is not. How can we know for certain? The most reliable way to determine the will of God is to dig into His Word.
Does God want us all to be millionaires? I don’t think that He does but I could be wrong.
God wants us to be faithful managers of His resources. At times, that will result in additional money coming into our lives. The test begins when we decide what to do with the new money.
Was it made available so that we could buy a $500 handbag or for some other purpose?
Deuteronomy 8:18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God has empowered us to get wealth. The contrast in Deuteronomy is that people were giving themselves credit for their wealth creation.
God gave them fair warning.
Wealth and Profitability
Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.
God also is teaching us to profit. The word “profit” should not be frightening. Profit is simply having more money after bills are paid. The Bible calls it good stewardship.
Many Christians are leaving God on the outside and attempting to build their own financial empire. When wealth is achieved they refuse to believe that God blessed them and it must have been their hard work.
That’s a dangerous place to reside.
Profiting is simply good stewardship.
You Do Not Have Because You Do Not Ask
When help is needed, ask for it. Yes, God is all-knowing but for some reason He expects us to ask.
Matthew 7:7-8 “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, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
James 4:2c You do not have, because you do not ask.
In both situations, the responsibility was on the person with the need to ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask.
What’s the worst that can happen? If the answer is “no” at least you now know.
Needs Still Must Be Expressed in Prayer
Maybe you have a huge financial burden and feel that your need is obvious.
God still expects us to ask for help.
Blind Bartimaeus was begging one day when he heard that Jesus was traveling nearby. Bart’s opportunity to get healed had finally arrived. He began making a big fuss and drawing attention to himself to the point of rebuke. He, however, was able to get the attention of Jesus that day.
Jesus called him over and asked him an odd question: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Wasn’t it obvious what Bart needed? Apparently not to Jesus.
He said, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” Immediately, he was healed (Mark 10:46-53).
Are there times when we simply do not ask God for help even though it’s needed?
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Praying With the Proper Motive
Motive matters to God. Selfish prayers are answered quickly with a resounding “NO!”
James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
God is our Father and wants what is best for us. He also knows what is best for us. We don’t always know what we need.
Maybe we think that we need a vacation to Europe. A scripture was found that indicated God would supply all of our needs according to His riches. Our need is a trip to Germany, France, and Italy — case closed.
The will of God is determined. Not so fast.
God so loved the world that He gave. Jesus loved us so much that He willingly laid down His life.
Are we as generous?
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake, He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.
The above scripture has been hijacked by some well-meaning but misguided Christians.
Jesus set an example and expects us to act similarly. Are we willing to receive the blessing of God and use it to help others instead of ourselves?
I believe that is the point Paul is making. Make yourself poor so that others can be rich — act like Jesus (article about radical generosity that I wrote).
Yes, your family should be taken care of financially. The needs of your family should be met by the provision of Almighty God. We need to cautiously approach the prosperity precipice. Many believers have wrecked their faith at this point.
Praying about money with the proper motive is necessary.
Accepting God’s Answer to Your Prayer
There will be times when you will need to pray through in a situation. Take some time to read the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18. Jesus used this example to encourage us to be persistent in prayer.
Earnest, heartfelt and passionate prayer is not for the spiritually lazy or faint of heart. Sometimes the answer is “no” and sometimes the answer is “not yet.” Maturity is required when we don’t get an immediate “yes” answer to prayer.
The children of Israel were discontent with God’s supernatural provision at one point and begged for meat. God was getting Egypt of them and they did not understand His divine plan. They continued to ask for something that was not His will at that time and it cost them dearly (Psalm 106:13-15).
Don’t push or test God. If the answer is “no” or “not yet” there is a good reason for it. Perhaps God is working something in and through you far greater than another $5,000 per year in salary.
God does not change but we must change on a regular basis.
Prayer Changes Me Not God
Prayer is not us spiritually twisting God’s arm to get Him to do something on our behalf. Often change is required on our behalf and during times of prayer, those plans are worked out and revealed by His Spirit.
Financial issues are often self-inflicted. I realize that statement is not popular. Society today wants to blame every person but the one making the mistakes.
If I continually spend more than I make in an effort to keep up with the Joneses or to appear wealthy I need God’s intervention. If I am lazy and constantly get fired from my place of employment I am in need of God’s help.
James 5:16b AMPC The earnest heartfelt continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available dynamic in its working.
Prayer works in us is to create permanent change. Through prayer, we’re being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus.
It’s not just about God dropping a miracle out of the sky because He feels sorry for us. No, God is playing the long game. He loves us too much to allow us to take a shortcut.
Praying About Money — Bible Examples
God is under no obligation to answer prayers that are out of line with His will or made under an incorrect motive.
God can and will say “no” to errant prayers. He also can and will answer prayers in the affirmative at His discretion. He’s God and this is His planet.
I Chronicles 4:10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm[a] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
Most would think that Jabez was selfish in his prayer. He boldly asked God to bless him and to enlarge his border — and God granted what he asked. God could have said ‘No’ but that’s not what He did.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Wisdom is needed more than money. Don’t hesitate to call upon God for a fresh infusion of His wisdom. One idea from God can totally change any situation.
Change Is Rarely Instantaneous
There will be times when we must simply overcome financial challenges. We all walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death at some point in our life.
My wife and I have spent cold nights at home with no heat or electricity. The cupboards have been bare and we’ve celebrated birthdays and Christmas without gifts.
During these bleak moments, God was working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
Micah 7:8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
There will be times when you’re all cried out and God seems a million miles away — but He is not. He has not given up on you. Don’t give up on Him!
Psalm 91:15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
God will answer us and He will be with us. He is with us as our money mess is untangled. Our part is to call on Him.
- Pray in every situation (Philippians 4:6)
- Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17)
- Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
I encourage you to take your financial situations — both good and bad — to God in prayer.
Pray in His Name, according to His will, and with a pure motive. You will get an answer. It might be yes, it could be no, or it just might be “not yet.”
Don’t grow weary in your prayer.
God is faithful!!