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Tough Questions – Week 1

Tough Questions

1. Can you be selfish while you are praying?

a. If you are constantly praying for yourself along with materialistic possessions, then I would say yes, your prayer can be selfish. Look at the LORD’s prayer:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.”

b. This is how Yeshua taught us to pray. In this prayer, there are things we should be praying regarding ourselves. We are going to talk about this more in our prayer series, but I think it will be important to touch on two parts of this prayer really quick:

1. When Jesus says to give us our daily bread. He is telling us to acknowledge that we need God for the necessary things in life. What is necessary? Well, the main things are water, food, shelter, and some sort of income. God will provide that. Now, if we start asking God for a Lamborghini and a mansion on 50 acres and enough money to retire at 30, then we are starting to get selfish.
2. I am not saying that those who can do that are not Christians or God cannot do that, but that is not God’s main priority. His main priority is providing the necessary things for life and a relationship with Him. There are a few other things in the LORD’s prayer that are regarding us. I will only touch on one more thing – Your will be done.
3. If we are constantly telling God what we are going to do and how we want it then concluding our prayer that way, acting as if God is not the God of the universe that knows what is best, rather that God is a genie that will grant us our wishes, we have become prideful and selfish. This life is a gift from God, and He is willing to direct your paths. Proverbs 16:9 and Psalm 32:8 remind us of that. In fact, that is His desire is we are fully dependent on Him.

2. The next question is a generic question from the internet that Christians often ask:

How should we interact/treat those that are practicing LBGTQ+?

a. We should treat them with love. I know we have talked about this often at youth group, but I think it is always a good reminder as more organizations, schools, and society as a whole are embracing, promoting and encouraging this lifestyle. We should love those who practice this lifestyle. I use intentional words such as, “I am blessed.” Or “Praise God for this day today!” This is in hope that it will spark a conversation about the LORD. Now, although we are called to love those who practice this lifestyle, that does not mean we are called to distort the Word of God. We are called to speak truth. So, never waiver from what the Word says, but present the Word in a loving way.