When we ask God for things we need, do we need to beg and plead with him? Or can we just trust that he loves us and will hear and answer us simply because we call on him? We don’t need to beg God to help us, instead, we can trust God to supply our needs because he promises to do so.
Matt 7:9 (NLT) “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
Jesus also says:
Matthew 6:24 says “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
We also must be generous with what we have and be willing to give. Proverbs 22:9 says those who are generous are blessed because they feed the poor. Proverbs 19:17 says those who lend to the poor, lend to God, and God will pay them back. In Philippians chapter 4, Paul asked the Philippians to give to the church of Thessaloniki, and based on the principles of Proverbs 19:17 and 22:9, he promised that God would supply all of their needs because of their giving in Philippians 4:19. In Luke 14:12-14 Jesus says to the host of a dinner he attended, that when they invite other rich people their reward will only be that those people will be invited back. However, he said if they invite people who can’t pay them back, like poor and sick people, then God will reward them at the resurrection. Our generosity is a sign of trust, it shows that we trust God enough to take care of us so that we won’t need to hoard resources for ourselves. He says in Deut 15:7-11 not to be stingy but be generous in giving and Paul repeats this in 2 Cor 9:6-12.
2 Cor 9:6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem[f] will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says worldly people who don’t have a covenant with God have to beg. Meanwhile, believers should trust that God will supply their needs because it is a covenant promise. Godly people don’t beg for anything from anyone, they simply do what God says and expect God to cover the cost. God’s people should seek to make money for the pleasure of giving, not just for survival. Working from the sweat of our brows in order to cover our needs is a part of the curse on humanity from Adams’s sin (Genesis 3:17-19). However, since Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), then believers are free from that curse, this is a part of the package of salvation. When asking God in faith, he will provide for his people because his covenant promises these things as a part of his love for those who have partnered with him like a wife who marries a husband that promises to provide for her. Or just like human fathers will give their children bread when they ask for food rather than a stone.