Was It Wrong For Me To Pray For Material Gain?

Hi Janey, In my study I came across this: James 4:2-3 Ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss. What does it mean to pray wrong? In many cases it simply means to pray without expecting results. Many believers do that, you know. They use prayers as a kind of spiritual wishbone. They just play around with it. "This probably won't do much good," they think" but who knows? It won't hurt to give it a try. You Prayed so expect the results, who knows.

What's really wrong or not right? You're being human and you want something, and it's OK to want. In fact, it's only to be expected you want. You're going to want more and be better, even better than everyone else. It's not only expected, but it makes you look pretty bad as a person if you don't! So go ahead and pray for what you want, because only telling yourself you don't want something that you obviously want, won't do anything but cause you headache and stress. As long as you're not killing someone or screwing up someones' life, just live yours and enjoy it during the short time you have, and that we all have.

In my opinion, there is too much criticism from orthadox, particularly "old" religious views that money is evil and not something that we should pursue. These days the world just isn't like that. As I regard politics, nearly every politician is interested in wealth and power. Churches of old took tithes from the people telling them that they would be better if they gave 10% of their money to the church.. In my mind, they pursued wealth too. I don't see this as being right or wrong, just that they did it. They then suggested to their congregations that money was evil - they either told them directly, or made them think it was evil. Was this a form of brain-washing? As a Zen practitioner, my intention is not to judge, but to observe and be aware of how humans behave, myself included. I buy a lottery ticket each week, and I hope to win. It would be great to witn the jackpot. I couldn't spend all the money with the way I live, but I could help out some friends and family members who are having difficulties, and I wouldn't feel guilty about getting myself that new car. Prey for it? I don't pray I meditate, but because I am aware that I want it, it is like praying I guess, but not to a deity because I only accept what I can experience, from my inner awareness and from what my senses tell me. I am therefore totally OK about anybody praying for anything. I don't interfere with what they believe in, but to me, there is like a silent voice inside from which I feel that everything is OK the way it is. Buddha said that the root of suffering was desire and that suffering can be eliminated if we elminate desire. Easy to say, but I have experinced whilst meditating, desire for something or other disappear. The peace was incredible. Desire came back though. I think that that challenge is part of life, and as a Zen practitioners, I become more and more aware the longer I stay doing my daily meditation. I think with this subject, if was can rise above what is right and what is wrong, the is valuable. Because it is only the conditioned mind that creates right and wrong. Love and light to you... _Derek

HI Janey I do not thing you were wrong or selfish.What you prayed for was between you and God. He hears our prayers I do believe and in his own time will answer.Stuck here in this retirement center I do not get to go to church but I pray also for various things'and always feel uplifted afterwards.

Hiya Janey, Me too I don´t think its wrong to pray for that either. What goes on between God and ourselves is our own business that is something that they can never ever take away from us and you don´t have to fill forms out for it or be held accounted for it either. Have not been in a Church for ages as the only Church for me is the Church of England really although I am in between the two really (long boring story that one). My favourite Churches still are in England I love the Churches here but not to go and pray in them. There are far too many dos and donts attached to those kind of things especially for me that it put me off going to Church for ages except if my Friend is there giving a Service of course otherwise I pray by myself in the House mostly. I would never think it wrong no not at all. You are concerned about your Mom and how she will feel after that´s all.xxx

I think most importantly we have to pray for is health. For this pain will be no sadness we are alive and healthy. As for material things I understand that sometimes we want many things but have patience because only vorya and patience to achieve it.

I'm sure many people have done this. I don't consider myself "religious" by any stretch of the imagination, but I wouldn't worry yourself too much over this. It is what it is. The only person who can surely say whether it's RIGHT or WRONG, per se, is the Creator, and yourself. If you need cash because you've gotten yourself in a bad situation, but you are working hard and trying to improve your situation, I don't personally see anything wrong with that. It's not up to me to judge. Best wishes!

I am glad to hear that praying for you made you feel uplifted and actually that is what praying does to all of us. Although I don't pray for anything I do pray and worry for a great many of those who truly can use the uplifting. There is nothing wrong with praying and if you truly believe in praying there is nothing selfish, in my opinion to do so.

I am an atheist but my mother is a devout catholic.She has lived to be ninety years old,I would rather she believe in it, because It is her anchor.Many people profess a religion,It goes to show the religion does it work in a sense.This is why I understand how you felt when you prayed for.

It's always a good thing when we turn to God in prayer. Not saying that you will now suddenly come into some money & your prayer will be answered, but I do believe that it's alright to pray for our basic needs such as a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs & food on our table. My Mom always used to say that God always provides & she was right. Never once have I been without a roof over my head, clothes on my back, or food on my table. As long as I have those things & my loved ones are healthy & well then I know that I will be happy. So don't ever stop turning to God in prayer because even if your prayer doesn't get answer right away that's no reason to give up. He always answers prayers in His own time & in His own way. It's like my Mom always used to say, "God always provides".

I don't think what you did was wrong either, you can pray for anything when you talk to god. Also, I don't see that pray is related to the fact of going or not going to church. In my opinion, I believe in god, but that does not mean that I believe in the catholic church. I am catholic though, but that was a decision made by my parents.

I don't think it is entirely wrong to pray for material gain - after all, we humans use a lot of material items day in, day out. In a way, praying for material things (like owning a new pair of shoes or owning the awesome coffee maker that could make the perfect coffee for you) is sort of praying for more perseverance - of course, if we want to own more things we need to work hard and save money for it, right? We all need money, and I am sure there are a lot of people praying for money, too (me included). Don't feel too guilty about it, but if you are really feeling guilty, then maybe pray for something that would give you extra cash - say another job, or learning a new skill you can use in earning more than you already have.

There's nothing wrong with us if we pray for material gain or whatsoever because God really want us all to be abundant in everything. In fact He offered the whole universe for us to enjoy. God love us so much so He will give anything that we asked for in prayers from Him - money, food, material things, etc., etc. There's nothing wrong to be rich as long as you did not acquire your fortune from bad deeds. There are texts, verses in the Bible that God really want us to be wealthy.

There's nothing wrong with us if we pray for material gain or whatsoever because God really want us all to be abundant in everything. In fact He offered the whole universe for us to enjoy. God love us so much so He will give anything that we asked for in prayers from Him - money, food, material things, etc., etc. There's nothing wrong to be rich as long as you did not acquire your fortune from bad deeds. There are texts, verses in the Bible that God really want us to be wealthy.

It never hurts to pray Janey... and praying for your mom more than praying for things is a good thing, and praying for "enough," isn't a bad thing

There is nothing wrong to ask and pray for some material things. We need money to live and survive and most people are not having enough or extra money,that is why they ask God's help. God knows our heart and desires even before we kneel down and pray. God only waited for us to ask and pray like a kid to his/her parents asking for a favor.

I prayed before for a pair of shoes I saw at the mall. I think we are all like this so even if it's wrong, you are not alone.

What you say to God is between you and Him. I was brought up Catholic and I remember being taught that "ask and you shall receive" It doesnt say "what" to ask or not ask, it says ASK and thats exactly what you did. Now.....will you receive or not sometimes its best if we dont get what we ask for. Let me explain. Lets say that I ask for a new Ferrari. If I get it, cool, if I dont, it might be because I'll most certainly kill myself if I get one. So at times, if we dont get what we ask for......theres a good reason for it lol. I talk to the man upstairs all the time. I asked for silly things over the years but now Im mostly asking for good health and for Him to keep me far, far away from Doctors and Hospitals. I ask Him to make sure I'll die in my sleep, in MY bed. I did pray when mom was sick and asked God to have her kidneys start working again but I also asked Him to let them start only if nothing worse would happen to mom. Would be awful if her kidneys would start and then she would have cancer!! I also asked Him to please have mom die peacefully in her sleep in her own bed and its exactly how it happened. Just make sure you say Thank you, no matter what happens!!

I think it is right for you to pray for material things. It is God wish that the children of God that is christian should live in wealth and not poverty. God want the best from us and he has control over the wealth of this world. I think you are on the right track to pray and wish for material things.

I don't think that there is anything wrong with praying, for whatever it is that you feel you need to pray! And to be honest I don't think that going to Church is any indication of what kind of person you are or how committed you are to God or anything. Prayers are exactly for voicing your concerns and asking for what you need, so i don't think you need to feel guilty - especially if it made you feel better to pray - there is some peace in you now and if thats what you benefited from praying then that's great!