The author has read a number of books by well-known, successful ministers and others, in which the writers claim that their financial success and power have come to them through prayer, and that all these things were the result of putting two Scriptures into practice
“… Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, BELIEVING, ye shall receive”;
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 21:22, Matthew 7:7 and Luke 11:9).
They seem to discount the fact that Jesus told his disciples that if they wanted to be his followers they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow in his footsteps. They seem to think they can ask for riches, power, political prominence and everything else they may wish for, and receive them. They only have to pray long enough and then all will be theirs. Instead of denying themselves, many of them reach out for praise and adulation, and seem to think they are doing God a favour to mention His name to others.
Now the mind can influence the actions to make something visualised long enough, and repeated over and over, come to pass to some extent, even sometimes to a great extent. In this way it is possible for certain determined people to come into possession of various much-to-be-desired material things. But they do not receive them through prayer to God, for God does not hear such prayers, and since they did not ask God to give them what was best for them, but insisted on getting what they themselves wanted, these things may in the end lead to their destruction.
It sometimes might be God’s will to give riches and power to a few dedicated people that He knows will use them to His honour and glory. But such people are few and far between. Jesus says :
“… It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle (a small gate a camel could scarcely squeeze through) than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24).
If a man has inherited riches or gained them in an honorable way (which is rarely the case, as most “successful” people have almost literally trodden on others in order to reach the top), if he wishes to be a follower of Jesus he must use them to further God’s message, help the worthy poor, and in many other God-honouring ways. He must not allow his riches to dominate him or become an idol to him; he must put God first in his life and not his riches. Consider the rich man who came to Jesus to find out what he must do to be saved. He had kept all the commandments, but there was one thing lacking. When Jesus told him to give his riches to the poor and follow him, he sadly went away because he loved his riches more than he loved Jesus (Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23).
Some wealthy men donate to charities, help students through college, etc., all very good causes, but how many of them put God first and use their money for the glory of God’s kingdom? They usually see to it that their names and good deeds appear in paper and magazine, so that they attain the praise of men.
“Verily I say unto you, they have their reward” (Matthew 6:5). The Bible tells us, “let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth” (Matthew 6:3).
These are the ones who receive the heavenly reward promised by our Lord.
To deny oneself and take up the cross of Christ is never going to result in an easy time. Jesus did not have it easy and neither did the apostles. Had they gone along with the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees they would no doubt have had a prominent place in the synagogue and in the society of that day. But they rebuked the so-called religious leaders in no uncertain terms, and gained their enmity and vengeance (Matthew 23:23-36). Jesus called the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes hypocrites, and likens them to whited sepulchres. We wonder what would happen if we talked in like manner to some of the hypocrites we see.
Of course, since we are not perfect as Jesus was, and do not have the power of the apostles, we cannot speak as forcefully as they spoke; but we can let the hypocrites and evil doers know that we do not approve of them by keeping out of their company, condemning their schemes and having nothing at all to do with them. Those who make no pretence of religion are better in God’s sight than those who make loud professions and, after spending a pious Sunday in the church or synagogue (Matthew 23:14), rob widows and orphans and do other decidedly unchristian things on week days. At least the non-professors do not place a stumbling block in the way of unbelievers who might become believers if they did not see so much deceit and hypocrisy among many so-called Christians.
The apostles, following in the steps of their Master, were maligned and persecuted and finally put to death because they brought to light the sins of the religious leaders. The common people received the Word gladly, but the Jews followed the apostles wherever they went and stirred up the people and caused all manner of trouble, sometimes beating and imprisoning them, and often forcing the apostles to leave the country and go elsewhere, where the same pattern was followed again. Would we be willing and able to undergo such trials? It is worth thinking about.
The problem that seems to confront us as Christ’s followers is this: Can we, as members of his body, expect to have everything this world has to offer and have eternal life as well? It can be done, but usually riches cause the downfall of the would-be saint. Jesus says that whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for his sake shall find it (Matthew 10:39; Luke 17:33; John 12:25). If, at the expense of principle, we save ourselves from the scorn and persecution that the faithful servant of God will usually undergo, we will lose the promised eternal reward. We have denied him, and he will deny us (2 Timothy 2:12). And, after all, what does this short life with its enticing pleasures amount to ?
The author remembers reading an article in a newspaper of a great man being buried with many in attendance from high walks of life, and with much pomp and ceremony, while nearby an unknown poor man was put to rest with a very few at the graveside. The poor man’s name was not even mentioned in the paper except perhaps in the obituaries, and it seemed that no-one knew or cared very much about him.
The Scripture tells us in death the two men were equal; that the great man could not take any of his riches and glory with him, and so physically he had nothing more in death than the other man. On the other hand, if the poor man had served God faithfully he would take with him the hope of eternal life, far greater riches than the great man had ever possessed. It could well be that the future holds nothing at all for the one whom the world considered great.
The saints may be unknown as far as this world is concerned, but “in that day” (the Millennial day) “of Zion shall it be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her” (Psalm 87:5). The faithful will be priests and kings and reign on the earth with Jesus (Revelation 20:6).
If we are not to ask for material things, what does the verse mean that tells us to ask, seek and knock? We believe it means we are to ask for wisdom; for strength to overcome our faults, and keep in the narrow way; for love in our hearts toward all; for the strength to forgive those who have wronged us; for strength to meet the day’s trials and temptations.
Are we not then to ask for ANYTHING material in this life? Jesus tells us that if we seek the kingdom of heaven FIRST, all these things shall be added; the very hairs of our heads are numbered; he bids us to note how beautifully the lilies are clothed (Matthew 6:26-30; Luke 12:27), and then says chidingly:
“Will He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”. And David has said: “I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).
Of course this does not mean that we should not make an honest effort to provide things for ourselves and our dependents. We need not be in want or poverty, but there is a happy medium between want and riches which is far better for most of us than wealth and success. Paul has said:
“… I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
So the main thing, let us repeat, is to seek the kingdom of heaven FIRST, and THEN food, shelter, clothing and the other necessary things will be added (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31).
If we are sick, may we ask God for healing? The Scriptures tell us to call in the elders of the church and have them pray for us, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick (James 5:14,15). These verses do not say that all who pray will always be healed. There might be a purpose in our sickness as there was with Paul. He prayed thrice for healing, but the Lord said:
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We must ask in faith, BELIEVING that we will be healed, or that sufficient strength will be given us to bear our burden. But we must ask that God’s will be done as did Jesus in Gethsemane. He prayed that if it were possible God would take from him the cup of suffering and death, but went on to say:
“Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).
Prayer is very necessary in order to live close to God. Just knowing the Scriptures and attending meetings is not sufficient, we must LIVE CLOSE TO GOD and try to walk as Jesus walked. Though we speak with the tongues of men and of angels, though we have the gift of prophecy, have faith to remove mountains and give our bodies to be burned and have not love, we are NOTHING (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). This tells us what we must do, and without this love for the brethren and to a certain extent for all others, we are NOTHING. That is an extremely serious indictment, and we hope it never refers to us.
To help us attain this closeness to God, we could repeat the 23rd Psalm and other suitable Scriptures every day of our lives, and benefit from their healing and comforting message. And as long as we are serving God we can also pray to be kept from harm. Note the 91st Psalm, verses 1, 5-10, 11-15. If we abide in “the secret place of the Most High” (verse 1) we need not be afraid of the arrow that flieth by day (or of the bullets and bombs today), or of the pestilence that walketh in darkness (verses 5,6). The world is full of moral pestilence today but it need not affect us if we have supreme faith in our God. In spite of attempts made upon his life, Jesus was harmed by nothing until his time was come, and neither need we be.
And we need not worry about when our time will come because God has promised to be with us through the “valley of the shadow of death” as well as in our life (Psalm 23:4). But in order to have this protection we must live very close to God, we must indeed dwell in “the secret place of the Most High”. How many of us are entangled to some extent with the affairs of this world . . . money, ambition, love of power, selfishness ? If any of us are, let us remember the words of Mark 8:36:
“What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”. And remember, the Son of Man comes in a time we know not, so let us be always on our guard; let us WATCH! (Matthew 24:42; Matthew 25:13; and especially Mark 13:35-37): “Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, WATCH!”.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay