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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
That’s encouraging. God knows me so thoroughly, anticipating my needs so effectively, that – what? He’ll give me anything and everything I want – immediately? Or is it only my legitimate needs he acquiesces to – no questions asked?
So say some, at least by inference, in the health and wealth movement within Christianity. God loving us so much and desiring so completely for us to be successful that he will make it happen, if we only believe. And while there is a certain amount of truth to that teaching, our success must be defined by God and tailored to his purposes. We can’t manipulate him into compliance to our wishes or abide by our time-frame; which can be contrary to his plan.
Jesus’ response to two eager, ambitious disciples illustrates this point, His blunt reply to their request being, “You don’t know what you are asking.” Matthew 20:22 Sometimes his answer to our requests – which he is aware of beforehand ( Matthew 6:8) – are, Yes, absolutely; at times, Absolutely not; at other times, Not now. It’s up to us to know his character well enough to discern what his answer is and abide by it – even if we don’t fully understand – while continuing to do what we know to be within his will until a more specific answer becomes evident.
Some of what we may ask for isn’t necessarily wrong, we’re just not capable of handling the responsibility that goes with it – yet. Some things may be wrong for us but right for others. Sometimes, as Christians, crucial decisions about school, companions, or careers need to be different even if we don’t fully comprehend why or desire to comply. All of which can be confusing. Add to that the possibility of our choosing a path that falls short of God’s plan and not to our best advantage. He can and will still bless, but our concern should be first-and-foremost the discovery of God’s nature and will for us – generally and specifically, trusting him to have our best interests at heart in all things; in other words submission.
But Jesus does say, “You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.” John 14:14 And, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22 (Causing some who have prayed desperately for a grievously ill loved one to despair when that loved one does not recover.) Mark 9:24 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 17:7, and “…I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you…” Matthew 18:19; at times sounding a bit hollow.
Conversely, Jesus compares our desire to do right by our children with God’s intent to bless, insisting “…how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Mark 7:11 But that’s contingent, at least in part, on our willingness to obey, bearing “fruit” in good deeds. “ Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” John 15:16,17 (See also 1 John 3:22) That concept reinforced in Luke 15:7, “ If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” The granting of “whatever you wish” predicated on our embracing of the scriptural definition of the “royal law” of Christianity, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” James 2:8 (See also Matthew 22:37-40 & Romans 13:8-10) Jesus cautioning us, however, that even when our wishes are granted, they come with an expectation of responsibilities, as “From everyone who has been given much, much more will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48
James later explains, “You want something but don’t get it… You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives,…” James 4:2,3The wisdom to balance our prayers with praise of God, intercession for others alongside requests for ourselves comes from our maturing in God (James1:16); enabling us to then, “…grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,…” Ephesians 3:1;18 “Who is able to do immeasurably more then all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,…” Ephesians 3:20 Enabling us to ask properly and do rightly.
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 14:16 That confidence rooted in the assurance that, “…if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us… we know that we have what we ask of him.” 1 John 5:14,15
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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