As a kid growing up, my dad always responded with “Why?” and “What for?” whenever I asked him for money. If I was unable to provide satisfactory responses to those questions, well then, I wouldn’t get the money.
Going to mom for money, most of the time, was met with “go see your father”; so yet another dead end.
It really seemed unfair at the time, but as I grew up I began to realize he was teaching me not only the value of a dollar but also the difference between “Want” and “Need”.
I believe the understanding of the difference between “Want” and “Need” is lacking in today’s society. Shocking, I know!
We are surrounded by rampant consumerism. We are hounded by ads in print, radio and television telling us we must have the latest and greatest version of smartphone or automobile. Americans carry huge credit debt causing many to live paycheck to paycheck; mortgaging “later” for “now”. We ask “What’s the monthly payment?” and straight-up ignore the total overall cost.
As my dad would ask, “Why?” “What for?”
That got me to thinking –
“When I pray, am I praying for things I want or things I need?”
“Is God’s response somehow “based” upon whether it is a “want” or a “need”? Does it matter as God answers all prayer?
I think the Rolling Stones said(sang) it the best…
“No, you can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you find
You get what you need…”
Dan’s View 
You know Dan, God has NOT answered quite a number of my prayers, through my life. I can honestly say I don’t remember if what I was asking for was a want or a need. However, later I realized I was very grateful that He did not answer the prayer.
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