From Ruthlessness in Making Money and Irresponsibility Spending It, Lord, Deliver Us (Prayer)
O God the Father, Creator of all things:
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Spirit, Giver of life:
Have mercy upon us.
O Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three Persons and one God:
Have mercy upon us.
From envy, avarice and status-seeking, from covetousness which is idolatry;
from wanting more than is our fair share:
Good Lord, deliver us.
From ruthlessness in making money, and from irresponsibility in spending it:
Good Lord, deliver us.
From unwillingness to know the cost to others of our own standard of living:
Good Lord, deliver us.
For financiers and politicians, industrialists and trade unionists, and all who wield economic power; that they may have grace, wisdom and compassion:
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the bewildered and those who cannot cope with a budget or with filling in forms or with the pressures of modern life:
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the victims of inflation, pensioners, people on small fixed incomes, and all who have been robbed of their savings:
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who cannot find jobs, or homes they can afford, for people made redundant for whatever reason:
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the increase of the fruits of the earth, that all may enjoy them:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, when we are deciding how to make money, how to steward it, and what to do with it; help us to look hard at our motives, our aims and our prejudices - honestly, as in your sight.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake became poor; grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. For your name's sake. Amen.