In a post on the web site on which I found this video (churchleaders.com) there was one comment that I in one way agree with and in another way disagree with. The comment was a disagreement with Chan's desire to pray for only what he needed. The reality is that God's desire is to give in abundance - to give us much more than we need. Our issue is that when we receive that abundance, we all too often receive it as meeting our "need" and we end up consuming it as belonging to us.
What I did agree with was the commentator's alternative prayer: "Lord, all I have belongs to you, for you are my source. And I give back to you what I don't need to live daily, with the remainder applied to fulfill your assignment in my life. Show me who to share with, who to bless and who could use more for your purpose in their lives. All of my needs are supplied according to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Amen"
I just see it as a further development of Chan's prayer. Unless we pray (and meant it) Chan's prayer of simplicity and austerity, we all too often don't see the abundance that God pours into our lives with the expectation that it will overflow into Kingdom advancement and blessing for many others.
Hmm, I would have to say- that the writer self defines himself as a brute and wanted more than anything to keep things simple. This is really different from King Solomon- who asked for Wisdom to go with his wealth.
ReplyDeleteAs with any potential vice (i.e. saying NO to facebook, for example) there is a safe level of use. Everything in Moderation, I've heard. If this man saw $$$$ as a sin magnet, he was right to pray it away from his life.
So far, I've avoided saying if I agree with it or not yet:) But likely, I won't be. I would rather be like Forrest Gump, when he says on the Bus Stop "We ll I guess we won't have to worry about money no more. You know, one less thing."
From Proverbs 30:
7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 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.