A Prayer For Financial Peace

“Dear Lord, please don’t make me too rich.  Amen.”

Have you ever taken that to the Lord in prayer?  Could you?  We pray for better health and peaceful marriages. We pray for God to help us through job interviews and sports tryouts.  We ask God for wisdom to navigate our way through a difficult time.  We ask God to make sure we keep breathing, eating and sleeping normally.  We thank him for his countless blessings and safety.  And, don’t be mistaken, those are all excellent prayers to keep bringing before our Savior’s throne. 

But – could we add, “Lord, don’t make me too rich” to our prayer lists?  

We need to.  That is a healthy thing to pray for.  God says in the book of Proverbs:  “Keep falsehood and lies far from me.  Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the LORD?”  Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God (Proverbs 30:8-9).”  

Here’s the thought behind the prayer: Lord – help me to separate my heart from lies.  Give me a solidified perspective on the difference between needs and wants.  It’s natural to stare sideways at the people around me, comparing my wealth to theirs, and wanting to one-up them.  It’s easy to worry about having enough money for the future.  Add them together, and that person will always be complaining and stingy.  But those are all sinful inclinations.  Even though many in the world think that way, does that make it right? 

No.  So, get back to this: that all I need is enough for today.  If I get too much more, I might be tempted to say, “I have arrived!  Look at my wealth!  I love my $$$$$$!  Who needs God?”  And that materialistic soul will lead me straight to hellfire!  Prevent me from suffering that terrible fate, Lord!  Please!  Don’t make me too rich.  Only give me enough for today, that will be plenty.  And if you are generous to give me more than my daily bread? Then help me to be as generous to you as you have been to me.  
 

Prayer:  Gracious Savior, all that I have comes from you: my body and soul, my strength and my intelligence, my time and my abilities, my energy and my possessions.  Guard me from lusting for more than what I need for today.  Keep me from the urge to use what I have for personal benefit only.  Change my heart.  Give me contentment.  Cause me to be content with my daily bread, and to use everything you have given me in joyful service to you and your people.  It’s in your holy name that I pray.  Amen.