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When it comes to personal finances, many believers wrestle with this question: Should we pray for financial prosperity or simply for provision?

On one hand, prosperity can seem like a natural desire—a way to secure stability, comfort, and even allow for greater generosity. On the other, seeking just enough for our needs might feel more aligned with Jesus’ teaching to ask for “our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), rather than desiring excess.

As we explore this question, it’s important to consider both our motives and the biblical principles that shape our view of God as our provider. Are we seeking prosperity for His glory, or does it risk becoming a pursuit of personal gain?

In today’s episode, we invite you to join us in examining our hearts as we seek God’s wisdom on approaching finances—in prayer!

 

Prosperity vs Provision

It’s essential to differentiate between praying for provision and praying for prosperity. The Bible encourages believers to trust in God for their needs and daily provision. In Matthew 6:11, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” which emphasizes reliance on God for necessities. Similarly, Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

However, praying strictly for material prosperity—financial wealth and abundance beyond needs—is not encouraged in Scripture! 

The Bible doesn’t condemn wealth, but it has strong warnings against making it the primary focus as seen in 1 Timothy 6:9-10. Money and prosperity can be blessings, BUT, they can also become curses by causing one to drift from the faith, drift from generosity, and from having a kingdom-focused mindset.

Instead, we should be praying to make an impact in the world! Maybe God will use financial prosperity in the process. But we should not make prosperity an idol and pray for the idol instead of the impact. 

Let’s answer the question simply: Don’t pray for financial prosperity. 

  • Pray that God will meet your needs. 
  • Pray that God will use you to make a great impact in the world for His Kingdom sake. 
  • Pray that God will give you wisdom! 

In doing so, maybe God will bless you with financial prosperity in the process. 

But do not pray for financial prosperity. If you do this, you are putting the cart before the horse.


What are the kinds of prayers that God blesses?


God blesses prayers for things that He has commanded us to pursue in His Word. Things like wisdom and diligence.

How to pray for your work

  • Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
  • 1 Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 
  • Proverbs 21:5 – The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
  • Col. 3:17 – And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:24 – A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.

How to pray for your family

  • Are we praying that we have the nicest car or house? Or, are we praying that we train our children to love God more than possessions? 
  • One of our goals is to transfer our faith to the next generation…helping them love the Lord more than the wealth. Are our children generous towards others? How are we praying for that within our children?

Here are some verses to pray over yourself and your family:

  • In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. (Proverbs 21:20, NIV84)
  • Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV84)
  • And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19, NIV84)
  • Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV84)

 

How to pray for your finances

  • Matthew 6:11 – Give us today our daily bread. 
  • Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
  • Matthew 6:30, NIV84 – If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30, NIV84)
  • Matthew 7:11 – If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

 

How to pray for Holiness/Sanctification

  • Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6, NIV84)
  • Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17, NIV84)
  • Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:12–13, NIV84)

 

Why is it dangerous to pray for wealth or financial prosperity?

We know that wealth is a blessing from God, but as we said earlier, it also can be a curse to those who value it more than faithfulness to God. 

When we pray for wealth, we’re not praying for God’s will to be done primarily!

  • We’re not praying for our character to be conformed to the image of Christ. 
  • What we are doing is praying for things…pleasure, no fear or anxiety (no lack), and that we can experience our best life now. 
  • The emphasis here is on what God can do for us instead of what we can do for God. 

NOTE: While we pray for good and godly character, the character is no guarantee of prosperity.

Some may say that they are praying for wealth so that they can give more to God’s Kingdom. To that we would say, be very careful! God doesn’t need your money. He owns it all!  What He wants is your heart beating in sync with His!

By praying for wealth so that you can give, are you trying to trick God into giving you wealth so that you can tithe and give back to God? If so, shouldn’t you already be doing that, no matter what your income is?

Certainly, we should seek to make and earn a good living and be charitable with what we are given. But don’t make charity the idol. Prioritize your relationship with the Lord.. and also your family’s relationship with the Lord!  One of the main reasons why it is dangerous to pray for prosperity is that we more often than not value the gift over the gift-giver!

 

Is it wrong to pursue wealth?

It is not wrong to engage in business and seek profit. The more we can make an impact in this world, the more successful we will be. But we have to acknowledge that it is the LORD that gives us the power to get wealth 

  • Deut. 8:18 – But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. (Deuteronomy 8:18, NIV84)

Please hear this loud and clear. It is up to Him whether or not we actually achieve wealth. Don’t make wealth your pursuit. As we said earlier, we ought not pray for wealth – period. Instead, pray for and pursue impact, excellence, and diligence. When we do this, wealth can be a result of things that we pursue, but it should not be the thing that we pursue directly.

 

What should we seek instead of wealth?

  • Seek to please God in all that you do. 
  • Seek to work hard wherever you are planted (Col. 3:23)
  • Seek to have God bless the world through your work, your efforts and generosity.
  • Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.
    • What is greater than wealth? 
    • Pursuing Holiness through your daily, ongoing relationship with Christ. Make Christ and holiness your great pursuit. 
  • We have a choice…and for some listeners right now, it is a choice that needs to be made now.  Are you going to serve  the desire of wealth or serve the Lord?  Which is it going to be?

 

What should we pray for in regard to our finances?

Pray to the Lord that He will give you what is needed for you and your family! 

Instead of praying for financial prosperity, shift your focus on being the best faithful steward of what God has put into your care, and trust that He will use you to impact your family, your communities, the world and His church so that more lives will be changed and transformed!



Next Steps

 

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