"Not a few of us have heard eloquent and earnest speeches
stressing the imperative need of money for missions where we have heard one
stressing the imperative need of prayer. All our plans and devices drive to the
one end of raising money, not to quicken faith and promote prayer. The common
idea among Church leaders is that if we get the money, prayer will come as a
matter of course. The very reverse is the truth. If we get the Church at the
business of praying, and thus secure the spirit of missions, money will more
than likely come as a matter of course. Spiritual agencies and spiritual forces
never come as a matter of course. Spiritual duties and spiritual factors, left
to the “matter of course” law, will surely fall out and die. Only the things
which are stressed live and rule in the spiritual realm. They who give, will
not necessarily pray. Many in our churches are liberal givers who are noted for
their prayerlessness. One of the evils of the present-day missionary movement
lies just there. Giving is entirely removed from prayer. Prayer receives scant
attention, while giving stands out prominently. They who truly pray will be
moved to give. Praying creates the giving spirit. The praying ones will give
liberally and self-denyingly. He who enters his closet to God, will also open
his purse to God. But perfunctory, grudging, assessment-giving kills the very
spirit of prayer. Emphasising the material to the neglect of the spiritual, by
an inexorable law retires and discounts the spiritual."
E.M. Bounds The Essentials of Prayer, Chapter 13 "Prayer and Missions", P. 92
