Stake Your Claim

"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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being 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!"
Matthew 7: 7-11 NKJV

There was a craze among christianity a few years back which almost seemed to me to demand our Lords blessing.  This "Name it and claim it" attitude seemed to permeate more than a few congregations, often encouraged by pastoral staff.  The basis of this belief was that one would pray to God, seeking a blessing of one sort or another.  It was thought that such bold confidence would somehow drive God to produce what we ask Him for.  Of course, this required a certain unwavering faith on our part.  For how could God provide what we've asked for if we do not believe that He can?  I've heard of people, christians, asking God for  everything from new cars to healing of illnesses.  The trouble is, if the blessing requested did not materialize, said person would immediately feel as if God was displeased or somehow withholding His provision until  they produced "Just enough" faith to push Him into action.  Does this not seem arrogant to anyone but me?  Does our Lord put requirements on His blessings?   From my experience He either allows blessing or does not.   However, one thing that is undeniable is that God DOES provide for our basic needs.  One scripture that I've seen used more often than not in the name it and claim it game is found in Matthew 7.  Here, in Jesus' sermon on the mount, Christ assures those listening that God would indeed provide for their daily needs.

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So  why do  you worry about clothing?  Consider the lillies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."
Matthew 6: 26-32 NKJV

I'm curious if our Lord has ever promised to make us wealthy?  Not that I can tell.  No, but He does promise to provide for our basic needs.  For as Jesus tells us "For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  So, why do we struggle continually with bringing requests for wealth before our Lord?  Is this not our own desires?  Believe it or not, whether we find ourselves rich or poor, God still provides for our needs.  That does not change.  What does change is our own minds when it comes to our requests of God.  One day it might be a better job, the next it may be a fancy new car.  Would we shock ourselves if we asked God, just once for something within His will?  How about asking God to reveal His Son in us?  How about asking Him how we might bless others with our surplus?

Where do wars and fights come from among you?  Do they not come form your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  You lust and do not have.  You mmurder and covet and cannot obtain.  You fight and war.  Yet you not have because you do not ask.  You ask  and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4: 1-3 NKJV

Here, in James 4, James gives us a answer as to why our requests for blessing may not  have been answered to our satisfaction.  For as James warns us "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures."  Is asking for that new car asking amiss?  I'd have to say so.  Now, that's not to say it's wrong to ask God to provide a replacement vehicle to replace one that is needed.  THAT is not asking amiss.  I would suggest that before we approach God with our wish list, perhaps we should ask Him just what He wants to accomplish through us.

Big Jim was no ones fool he owned the towns only diamond mine
He made his usual entrance looking so dandy and so fine
With His bodyguards and silver cane and every hair in place
He took whatever he wanted to and he laid it all to waste
~Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts~ Bob Dylan


~Scott~