Author Topic: Should you ask God for money or success? (Read 823 times)

Disputaciones · « **on:** January 13, 2017, 01:27:54 AM »

Or would this be considered being lazy and wanting it easy? Given that so many people with no religion at all or who are direct enemies of God make money and are successful, I'm not so sure about this.

The fact is that, unless you're born into a rich family, you need skills/knowledge that are of value in order to be successful and you need to work hard etc., unless you're smart and manage to invent something valuable.

On the other hand I don't know if it would be being prideful and not humble to think that you can do it all on your own and that you don't need God's help, but I see so many successful people openly boasting how they have been successful all on their own and that you simply need to "get off your a** and do it."

I've even thought that asking to be smarter or have a better memory etc. might be wanting it easy and being lazy, since this can come about by putting in the hard work/dedication etc.

Thinking about all this while knowing that Our Lord said that we can't do anything without Him, makes this all confusing.

Edit: there's supposed to be a dash in "money/success."

Nadir · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2017, 03:12:06 AM »

Ask God for the grace to do His Will in all things. Nothing more is necessary.

Stubborn · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2017, 03:47:07 AM »

From the book: Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence

From Part 2:

We do not ask enough

It is clear then that we do not receive anything because we do not ask enough. God could not give us little, He could not restrict His liberality to small things without doing us grave harm. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that we offend God if we ask for temporal benefits or to be freed from misfortune. Obviously prayers of this kind can rightly be addressed to Him by making the condition that they are not contrary to His glory or our eternal salvation. But as it is hardly likely that it would redound to His glory for Him to answer them, or to our advantage to have them answered if our wishes end there, it must be repeated that as long as we are content with little we run the risk of obtaining nothing.

Let me show you a good way to ask for happiness even in this world. It is a way that will oblige God to listen to you. Say to him earnestly: Either give me so much money that my heart will be satisfied, or inspire me with such contempt for it that I no longer want it.

Either free me from poverty, or make it so pleasant for me that I would not exchange it for all the wealth in the world. Either take away my suffering, or -- which would be to your greater glory -- change it into delight for me, and instead of causing me affliction, let it become a source of joy. You can take away the burden of my cross, or you can leave it with me without my feeling its weight. You can extinguish the fire that burns me, or you can let it burn in such a way that it refreshes me as it did the three youths in the fiery furnace. I ask you for either one thing or the other. What does it matter in what way I am happy? If I am happy through the possession of worldly goods, it is you I have to thank. If I am happy when deprived of them, it gives you greater glory and my thanks are all the greater.

This is the kind of prayer worthy of being offered to God by a true Christian. When you pray in this way, do you know what the effect of your prayers will be? First, you will be satisfied whatever happens; and what else do those who most desire this world's goods want except to be satisfied? Secondly, you will not only obtain without fail one of the two things you have asked for but, as a rule, you will obtain both of them. God will give you the enjoyment of wealth, and so that you may possess it without the danger of becoming attached to it, He will inspire you at the same time with contempt for it. He will put an end to your sufferings and even more He will leave you with a desire for them which will give you all the merit of patience without having to suffer. In a word He will make you happy here and now, and lest your happiness should do you harm, He will let you know and feel the emptiness of it. Can one ask for anything better? But if such a great blessing is well worth being asked for, remember that still more is it worth being asked for with insistence. For the reason why we obtain little is not only because we ask for little but still more because, whether we ask a little or we ask a lot, we do not ask often enough.

cassini · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2017, 03:59:35 AM »

There is the story of the fellow who prayed to God to win the lotto. He boasted to his friends 'ask god for anything and he will give it to you.' Two years later he hadn't won and his friends had a laugh at him. Patrick got angry with God and threatened to become an atheist. The next lotto draw took place and again he won nothing. 'That's it,' he said, 'I no longer believe in God.' With that there was tunder in the heavens and a voice bellowed 'Patrick, why then don't you meet me half way and buy a lotto ticket,'

Then there is Job. Rich then made poor by God, Job did not complain, still placed his faith in God. As a reward God made Job ten times richer than he was previously.

Then there is the case of two praying to God that their soccer teams win the cup. How could God decide? So he lets them work it out for themselves.

nctradcath · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2017, 07:35:07 AM »

The idea that their is "coincidence" is false as every aspect af all our lives has been ordered by God in his providence. Often the people that say "work hard" have been gifted by God with education, family connections, intelligence, and good health that they wrongly attribute to themselves to their damnation. God will give you all that you pray for if it is conducive to your eternal salvation. Pray and work for a comfortable life and God will grant it to you if it will be good for your salvation as long as you seek to do his will. I believe that God doesn't grant some people wealth because with it they would damn themselves.

Stubborn · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2017, 08:10:37 AM »

Quote from: nctradcath

The idea that their is "coincidence" is false as every aspect af all our lives has been ordered by God in his providence. Often the people that say "work hard" have been gifted by God with education, family connections, intelligence, and good health that they wrongly attribute to themselves to their damnation. God will give you all that you pray for if it is conducive to your eternal salvation. Pray and work for a comfortable life and God will grant it to you if it will be good for your salvation as long as you seek to do his will. I believe that God doesn't grant some people wealth because with it they would damn themselves.

Yes, exactly! Haydock commentary puts it like this:

Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Whatever we ask necessary to salvation with humility, fervour, perseverance, and other due circuмstances, we may be assured God will grant when it is best for us. If we do not obtain what we pray for, we must suppose it is not conducive to our salvation, in comparison of which all else is of little moment. - Haydock

Disputaciones · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2017, 10:00:35 AM »

Quote from: nctradcath

The idea that their is "coincidence" is false as every aspect af all our lives has been ordered by God in his providence. Often the people that say "work hard" have been gifted by God with education, family connections, intelligence, and good health that they wrongly attribute to themselves to their damnation. God will give you all that you pray for if it is conducive to your eternal salvation. Pray and work for a comfortable life and God will grant it to you if it will be good for your salvation as long as you seek to do his will. I believe that God doesn't grant some people wealth because with it they would damn themselves.

When would being rich ever be "necessary for salvation"? Why does that have to be a condition?

Matto · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2017, 10:02:36 AM »

I have debts. And sometimes I have asked God to help me pay my debts.

TKGS · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2017, 10:14:56 AM »

A certain man prayed every day that he would win the lottery. After the drawing, he complained to God saying, "I have prayed every day to win the lottery. Why will you not give me a break and allow me to win?"

God replied, "Why won't you give me a break and buy a ticket!"

Cantarella · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2017, 11:47:26 AM »

There is nothing wrong with asking God for all things, as long as they are not of a sinful nature. Keeping always in mind the wise teaching of St. Augustine: "Pray as though everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on you". The Council of Trent also has a dogmatic teaching to this effect in the Chapter of Justification. Basically, make sure first you are doing everything you can on your own to earn this money via honest and legitimate means (A decent job, business, etc. Nothing criminal or sinful).

There is nothing wrong with money itself. There have been many saints and holy men and women who have been rich, God blessing them with plenty of material prosperity. Having said that, not everyone is meant to be rich and we need to accept God's will in all things. Differences in social status do and are meant to exist and that is fine. Sometimes, God will answer money requests, and sometimes he won't, because he knows that remaining in poverty may be better for the sanctification of your soul. In some Protestant sects, money is a sign of God's election. Not so, in Catholicism. You can be poor and be a saint. You can be rich and be a saint. Both people will be in Heaven one day, which at the end, is the only thing that really matters.

I have heard that the Infant of Prague is a good devotion for financial matters. I have confirmed this in many occasions.

Pax Vobis · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2017, 12:02:14 PM »

For spiritual things, ask God for everything. But especially for patience, for no one becomes a saint overnight.

In temporal things, it's not wrong to ask for what we want, but also ask for acceptance of His will. God gives most of us more than we need and, at least in America, what we need to ask for his the grace to 'be content'. How many people are unhappy just because they look at 'what the jones' have'?

Disputaciones · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2017, 12:13:35 PM »

Quote from: Cantarella

There is nothing wrong with asking God for all things, as long as they are not of a sinful nature. Keeping always in mind the wise teaching of St. Augustine: "Pray as though everything depended on God and act as if everything depended on you". The Council of Trent also has a dogmatic teaching to this effect in the Chapter of Justification. Basically, make sure first you are doing everything you can on your own to earn this money via honest and legitimate means (A decent job, business, etc. Nothing criminal or sinful).

There is nothing wrong with money itself. There have been many saints and holy men and women who have been rich, God blessing them with plenty of material prosperity. Having said that, not everyone is meant to be rich and we need to accept God's will in all things. Differences in social status do and are meant to exist and that is fine. Sometimes, God will answer money requests, and sometimes he won't, because he knows that remaining in poverty may be better for the sanctification of your soul. In some Protestant sects, money is a sign of God's election. Not so, in Catholicism. You can be poor and be a saint. You can be rich and be a saint. Both people will be in Heaven one day, which at the end, is the only thing that really matters.

This is how i thought it has to be actually, but i was just curious to see what others would say about this subject.

Quote from: Cantarella

I have heard that the Infant of Prague is a good devotion for financial matters. I have confirmed this in many occasions.

I'm not in financial straits actually, but like i said i was just curious.

Not that i doubt it but how have you confirmed this?

poche · « **Reply #12 on:** January 13, 2017, 11:45:31 PM »

I think you should ask God for whatever would help you to give Him the greatest glory.

Student of Qi · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2017, 09:31:41 PM »

Quote from: Disputaciones

Or would this be considered being lazy and wanting it easy? Given that so many people with no religion at all or who are direct enemies of God make money and are successful, I'm not so sure about this.

The fact is that, unless you're born into a rich family, you need skills/knowledge that are of value in order to be successful and you need to work hard etc., unless you're smart and manage to invent something valuable.

On the other hand I don't know if it would be being prideful and not humble to think that you can do it all on your own and that you don't need God's help, but I see so many successful people openly boasting how they have been successful all on their own and that you simply need to "get off your a** and do it."

I've even thought that asking to be smarter or have a better memory etc. might be wanting it easy and being lazy, since this can come about by putting in the hard work/dedication etc.

Thinking about all this while knowing that Our Lord said that we can't do anything without Him, makes this all confusing.

Edit: there's supposed to be a dash in "money/success."

I think it better to ask God for success because if one has success one can become a St. or achieve almost anything. But, it would be wise to ask for the strength and understanding needed to persue what is desired. Lastly, one must tell God that all trust and faith is put in Him, and one must trust Him!

poche · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2017, 11:36:46 PM »

I am reminded of the time I asked God to send me lots of money. I prayed in this manner, "Oh God you said ask and you shall recieve. Well I am asking for lots of money."
I stepped out of the house and sure enough scattered all over the pavement were lots of pennies. 43 to be exact. It just goes to show you that God has a sense of humor.
hahahahahaahhahahahaahahahahahahahahaahaahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahaha