© 2019 Bill Murphy
Matthew 6:8 tells us… for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
What a wonderful truth! It speaks volumes of the greatness and love of God. Yet amazingly, I’ve heard it misquoted, and misunderstood.
Perhaps it would be best to discuss what this verse doesn’t say.
First of all… it doesn’t imply than its pointless to pray because God already knows. Also, read this truth closely, and see what it says, as opposed to what you might think or wish that it says.
Pray is communion with God. Prayer is the channel through which we (humanity) speaks with God (deity). Prayer is also one of the principal times when God speaks to us, or should I say when we pause and listen to Him. Prayer is spiritual face-time. Prayer is a gift. Prayer is a treasure. Prayer is a blessing and a necessity.
I know that God is interested in all aspects of our lives, and He assuredly knows ever inch of our hearts, including all of our wants and desires. Furthermore, He also knows which of our needs are most pressing. And perhaps most important of all, He also knows which of our wants would not help us or be of any benefit to us. God is the ultimate Good Father. None can love and care for us as much as He does. Therefore, His focus is on our needs, and not our wants.
Many years ago I heard a simple story which best illustrates this truth. Call it a modern-day parable. Two friends were graduating high school together. Both boys came from ‘financially comfortable’ homes. Both boys had been promised an automobile upon graduation.
Both boys wanted red sports cars. After much discussion in their respective homes, the father of boy A caved in to his son’s wishes and bought his son the sports car. The father of boy B stood his ground, explaining to his disappointed son that he was not ready to handle the responsibility of a high powered vehicle… and bought his son a used compact.
Within a week, the boy with the sports car was dead… crashing his sports car into a tree at high speed.
In retrospect, which father was wiser? Which father demonstrated more genuine love and concern for his son?
As the scripture says… your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Wants and needs came be as different as life or death.
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Pen In Hand 