Is Prayer Selfish?

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Yes, to ask for God for anything in prayer is selfish. Complete faith in God would lead to a prayer of love and praise only.

But, sometimes, being human, it is pretty hard not to be selfish!
 
I suppose I have to take issue with the above on two counts.
First is that it was God Himself, in Christ, who taught us to ask for things in prayer. This is mentioned in more than one place in the Gospel.
Second - we are to love others as we love ourselves - but if we DO love ourselves (and acknowledge that fact) could / would we not be accused of being “selfish”, or conceited or self-centered?

Of course, proper self love is not conceited. It does not place itself above others, nor does it seek to take from others that which is rightfully theirs. For this reason, Jesus taught us to ask for our “daily bread” - that is - for our daily needs to be met. In that way, while we are asking for things, we are not asking for any more than we also ask for others.

So - anyway - While I agree with you that our prayers, indeed our entire outlook, should be primarily focused on Love and praise to our Father in heaven, I must disagree that asking for things in prayer is necessarily selfish.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
I suppose I have to take issue with the above on two counts.
First is that it was God Himself, in Christ, who taught us to ask for things in prayer. This is mentioned in more than one place in the Gospel.
Second - we are to love others as we love ourselves - but if we DO love ourselves (and acknowledge that fact) could / would we not be accused of being “selfish”, or conceited or self-centered?

Of course, proper self love is not conceited. It does not place itself above others, nor does it seek to take from others that which is rightfully theirs. For this reason, Jesus taught us to ask for our “daily bread” - that is - for our daily needs to be met. In that way, while we are asking for things, we are not asking for any more than we also ask for others.

So - anyway - While I agree with you that our prayers, indeed our entire outlook, should be primarily focused on Love and praise to our Father in heaven, I must disagree that asking for things in prayer is necessarily selfish.

Peace
James
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Perhaps my choice of the word ‘selfish’ was not quite right. I meant, reflecting an attitude which was purely human and legitimate as such, but at the same time, less than totally absorbed into the will of God, and less than totally indifferent to things other than God.

I have often thought, the expression “Give us this day our daily bread” could mean, “God, whatever you choose to send me today, whether joy or sorrow, trouble or peace, life or death, I accept that as my daily bread.” Linking it with, “Thy will be done…”
 
Qoeleth said:
Perhaps my choice of the word ‘selfish’ was not quite right. I meant, reflecting an attitude which was purely human and legitimate as such, but at the same time, less than totally absorbed into the will of God, and less than totally indifferent to things other than God.
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Yea - I understand the difficulty in trying to hit just the right balance in phrasing something. The above seems to be better…
I have often thought, the expression “Give us this day our daily bread” could mean, “God, whatever you choose to send me today, whether joy or sorrow, trouble or peace, life or death, I accept that as my daily bread.” Linking it with, “Thy will be done…”
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Well - I don’t want to tell another how to read and understand this. The prayer has some room for interpretation, but personally I don’t get that meaning from the petition. It seems pretty straight forward to me.
But that’s just me…🙂

Peace
James
 
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