The God Who Gives More Than You Ask

(Come Follow Me, 3 Nephi 12-16)

Jesus loves to talk about His Father. In the New Testament and in 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, it's clear Jesus wants people to know who His Father is. He wants people to know of His boundless goodness, and feel completely unafraid to come to Him with our needs - even our fondest desires. Approaching the throne of God is so much more safe than many imagine, and Jesus wants the human race to know it.

Much of 3 Nephi mirrors scripture in the New Testament - like here, where Jesus explains how His Father God answers prayers:

"For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

"Or what man is there of you, who if his son asked bread, will give him a stone?

"Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (3 Nephi 14:8-11)

If an earthly father knows to not give a stone for bread when his child is hungry, then certainly a Heavenly Father will give that earthly need - and how much more?

"...remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

If an earthly father knows to not give that hungry child a serpent instead of a fish, then certainly a Heavenly Father will provide for that temporal - temporary need - and how much more?

"...as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them,... there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved." (2 Nephi 25:20)

Jesus subtly teaches this powerful truth: God has asked us to pray for our temporal needs, but He is far more concerned about our eternal spiritual needs. And because He is our Father and loves us, He will generously give us both.

I can look back on so many times when I've prayed for something transient and gotten so much more than I asked for. God's abundance has taught me to be instantly suspicious of anyone preaching scarcity. Scarcity breeds fear, coveting, greed, and pettiness. Abundance breeds faith, generosity, and benevolence. That's who our God is. That's who He wants us to be. How often will He give us more than we asked for, in order to teach us this?

I can also look back on many more times when I've prayed for something terribly important, and in the transient moment, received an answer of no. As time passes, I've learned that Father's noes look like this - either:

• A permanent no is because I've asked for something not in accordance with His will, or

• The temporary no is really an answer of "not now" or "not yet" - or

• The no could actually include this statement: "I have something better for you."

The Bible Dictionary teaches this powerful truth about asking amiss:

"Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them." (Bible Dictionary, p. 752-753)

I've learned that the condition of asking is more about honoring my agency than anything else. I've learned that as much as our Father God wants to be actively involved in my life, He's terribly polite, and will not intrude when not invited. What a Gentleman.

If I pray like I'm putting coins in a vending machine, the outcome is rarely the Milky Way I thought I was after. But as I learn to pray to seek the will of God, and to train my unruly human heart to want that will more than my own, I start to see that my Father God will give me bread - for now - and an immovable stone of faith to build my life on. He will give me the fish I need to fill my belly today - and access to His Only Begotten Son.

"...And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.

"And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal." (Helaman 8:14-15)

How much more does our God want to give us, if we learn to want it, and ask? He wants to give us everything - and His Beloved, perfect Son gave His all to provide it. Bread and stone; fish and serpent. More than we can ever possibly need or want - now and eternally. That's who our God is - Our Father. Abundance. Generosity. And love beyond measure.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)