In the bible it says ask and you shall receive. During hard times, is it wrong to ask God to bless my husband with more hours of work so that we can afford food or bills? It’s almost like asking for more money.
Listen: 103 Question 6
Let’s read the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 7:7 where he said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” The Father wants to meet the needs of all His children, so the Lord tells us here to ask. This teaches us to takes all our problems and needs to the Lord in prayer. We read in 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” The Lord wants us to humble ourselves before Him and cast ‘all’ our cares upon Him in dependence on His love and provision.
One reason for our lack is often our lack of prayer in giving all our cares to the Lord. James said in James 4:2, “…ye have not, because ye ask not.” We need to realize that we can give the Lord ALL our cares, from the smallest to the largest.
Asking the Lord to give your husband more work hours so that he can work to support your family is a very appropriate thing to do. The Lord expects us to work as we read in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” To ask the Lord to provide you with the opportunity to work is very commendable. To ask the Lord to provide money without any effort would be inappropriate.
Let me caution you to keep your bills and your needs small. Too often we over-extend ourselves by purchasing things that we really don’t need. These things tend to distract our hearts away from the Lord and they can use up all the money we have, when we really should be using that money more wisely. (103.6)