Which Prayers Count as Selfish?

Reported and photographed by Isaac Gallegos

It is easy during this time in quarantine to pray for health, for protection over our loved ones, and for the COVID-19 virus to swiftly go away. However, does God really want to hear so many of the same prayers? And which of our prayers are selfish instead of noble?

It is important to understand what is and isn’t “selfish.” Some Christians may think selfishness concerns anything a person wants for themselves, so we must not ask for anything we want on this earth. However, Matthew 7:7-11 in the Bible explains that God will give things to those who ask, because God values us greatly.

This passage, as well as Matthew 6:33, elaborates on the idea that we must ask for things that align with God’s will. Many prosperity gospels falsely preach that God wants everyone to be rich, famous, or healthy.

Nevertheless, we must understand that our prayers must fall along a line of humility, surrender, and longing for a relationship with God. Many pray out of motion or obligation. This is incorrect.

Moreover, Proverbs 28:9 expresses that if we do not obey God’s law and commandments then our prayers are “an abomination.” Harsh, but just. If we do not seek Him first and follow His commandments, our prayers are not in an effort to grow closer to Him but rather away from His glory.

Now that we understand which prayers are noble in God’s eyes, it is relatively easy to understand which prayers are “selfish” regarding this ever-growing virus. Can we pray for a loved one to be cured of the virus if they are diagnosed? Of course, as long as we continue to announce that God’s will be done.

Can we pray for protection over ourselves against the virus? Yes, as long as we don’t assume that because we are Christians we are immune to the virus. That is false teaching. We are all human, so we are all physically susceptible. However, God has a plan for each one of us, with all the variants that consists of, so that is where we should rest our hope.

There are, of course, prayers that are explicitly selfish. Can we pray for more face masks to be stocked in our nearby store? It would be wise to stay away from a prayer like this. Is it in God’s plan to worry about how many face masks are stocked in the nearest Walgreens? Only He knows. But, it is nobler to pray for the employees of that store to be protected against the virus due to their courage to work in-store and have a chance at being exposed.

Similarly, can we pray for the virus to go away, so we can hang out with our friends in-person over summer break? Again, it is best for us to meditate on how we can communicate with our friends in the moment, rather than asking God to make a way for friends to chill.