29 Jun '11 00:59>
Originally posted by Conrau KIt is certainly true that Jesus teaches his disciples to ask for what they need, Give us this day our daily bread, but I can't imagine Jesus instructing his disciples to pray for salary rises -- this is the same Jesus who asked his disciples to give up everything, let the dead bury the dead.
I see a lot wrong with it. First, the Scriptures, while teaching God's covenantal commitment of prosperity to his chosen people, equally teaches that the path to God involves suffering and hardship. Take, for example, the wandering of the Israelites in the desert, the sufferings of Job, the passion of Christ (and his statement, Thy will be done), or ...[text shortened]... ay unless there really were some higher need for money. Perhaps Nicksten can explain that.
Not everyone has been called to give up everything. For instance, the demon possessed individual who asked to follow Christ and was refused. Consider cases of Christians with dependents—does Jesus expect them to quit their jobs, leave everything and follow Him? For those in debt and with dependents, a raise at work could be a completely legitimate thing to ask for in prayer.
Second, I think it's contemptible to think of God as praiseworthy simply for bestowing material wealth. If you read the Church Fathers, for example, God's praiseworthiness derives from His nature, as something beautiful and good in itself.
I completely agree. But who is saying God is praiseworthy simply for bestowing material wealth?