The Jesus Way to Healthy Prayer and Relationships

Relationships are sometimes the most difficult things in our lives. As always, people are the problem. Jesus has a solution. In Matthew chapter 7 He puts the focus on relationships. Jesus shows us that relationships don’t have to be as hard as we make them, that the way to love others appropriately is to seek God continually. This is the idea behind Matt. 7:7-11; and it relates in some way to almost everything we do in life. It is not about getting whatever we want when we want it, it’s about wanting whatever will most glorify God.

Jesus is speaking of prayer in the context of healthy relationships with God and others. It is tied closely to what Jesus has already said about prayer (6:5-13); His instructions to not judging wrongly (7:1-5a) but exercise wise discernment and evaluation (7:5b-6); and the Golden Rule(7:12), doing to others what you want done to you.

There are three simple truths we see in this passage of Scripture.

God wants us to ask.
Ask means come to God humbly conscious of your need; to pray. 1 Thess. 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Living in an attitude of prayer. Seek means come to God responsibly pursuing His sovereign, gracious will; asking with sincerity. Wanting whatever He wants. Knock means come to God confidently persistent, trusting Him to provide; active, diligent pursuit of God’s ways. These are present active imperatives, stressing continual action, persistence.

In the context of not judging wrongly and knowing how to wisely evaluate people’s actions, we are to ask for wisdom to deal appropriately with people – not judging them wrongly; but being wise and discerning.

God promises to answer.
“It” is whatever God knows is best for you. We ask, He gives what is needed. This is not name it and claim it. We must careful to ask for the right things for the right reasons. God is not a vending machine; there to just give us what we want. Solomon is a good example (1 Chron. 28:9-10, 20; 2 Chron. 1:8-13); God asked Him to ask for whatever he wanted and he asked God for a wise and discerning heart.

God gives good gifts.
Jesus gives an example from everyday life showing blessings a parent gives to their children. Parents, who are imperfect and sinful, want to bless their kids and give them good gifts. They don’t purposefully give them harmful things. God, who is perfect and holy, always gives what is good. You may not always get the thing you want, but He always provides what you really need. In the midst of joy and pain He provides. No matter what He is sovereign and He is working all things together for good for you; using His good gifts in your life, household and community in the process of making you more Christ-like.

Jesus’ way to healthy prayer and relationships is best: the way to love others appropriately is to seek God continually; because when we seek God continually we love others appropriately, and we receive God’s blessings thankfully.