At some point in life, many people find themselves in situations where they feel desperate.
They might say something like, “God, if you get me out of this, I promise I’ll go to church every week,” or “God, if you help me pass this test, I’ll never lie again.”
This is what people often call making a deal with God.
But is this the way we should approach our relationship with Him?
Does the Bible support the idea of making deals with God?
Let’s explore what Scripture has to say about this common reaction to difficult situations.
What Does It Mean to Make a Deal with God?
Making a deal with God usually means offering a promise or commitment in exchange for God’s help.
For example, you might promise to do something good—like pray more, give to charity, or change a bad habit—if God answers your prayer in a specific way.
While this can seem like a way to bargain or negotiate with God, it raises important questions about how we view Him and our relationship with Him.
In the Bible, we see a few examples of people making vows or promises to God.
One famous story is found in Judges 11:30-31, when a man named Jephthah makes a vow to God: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”
Jephthah’s vow was an example of making a deal with God, but the outcome was tragic.
He promised something without fully considering the consequences, and this story serves as a cautionary tale.
This type of deal-making often reveals a misunderstanding of God’s nature and how He works.
God is not a bargaining partner who grants us favors in exchange for promises; He is a loving Father who desires a relationship built on trust, not transactions.
God’s Desire for Relationship, Not Transactions
One of the main reasons making deals with God is problematic is that it treats our relationship with Him as if it’s a business agreement.
But the Bible teaches that God desires a personal and loving relationship with us, not one based on negotiations.
In Matthew 6:7-8, Jesus teaches, “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
This passage reminds us that God already knows our needs and cares for us, so we don’t need to manipulate Him with deals or bargains.
God’s love for us is not dependent on what we can offer Him.
In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul writes, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
This verse emphasizes that we cannot earn God’s favor by making promises or deals.
Our relationship with Him is based on His grace, not on anything we do to earn it.
When we try to make a deal with God, we miss the heart of His character.
God wants us to trust Him and rely on His goodness, not approach Him like we’re trying to strike a deal.
The Dangers of Making Deals with God
Making a deal with God can be dangerous for several reasons.
First, it can lead to disappointment if things don’t turn out the way we expect.
When we promise to do something in exchange for a specific outcome, we might feel that God has let us down if the situation doesn’t go as planned.
This can damage our faith and trust in Him.
In Proverbs 3:5-6, we are encouraged to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This verse teaches us to trust God’s plan, even when it’s different from what we want.
Trying to control the outcome by making deals with God can lead us away from true faith, which is based on trusting God’s wisdom and timing.
Another danger of making deals with God is that it can cause us to focus more on what we want than on what God desires for us.
James 4:3 says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
This verse warns us against praying with selfish motives.
When we make deals with God, we might be more concerned with getting what we want than with seeking God’s will for our lives.
Additionally, making deals can lead to a transactional faith, where we only obey or seek God when we want something from Him.
God doesn’t want us to follow Him only when it benefits us; He desires our love, obedience, and trust every day, regardless of the circumstances.
Biblical Examples of Vows and Promises
While the Bible warns against making thoughtless deals with God, there are examples of people making vows or promises to God in Scripture.
However, these vows were often made with deep seriousness and were not based on bargaining for favors.
In 1 Samuel 1:11, we read about Hannah, a woman who deeply desired to have a child.
She made a vow to God, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life.”
Hannah’s vow was not a deal for personal gain but a promise to dedicate her child to God’s service.
When God answered her prayer, she kept her promise, and her son Samuel became a great prophet and leader in Israel.
This story shows that making promises to God can be appropriate if done with the right heart and intention.
However, it also teaches us the importance of being serious and thoughtful about the commitments we make to God.
In Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, we are given a warning about making vows: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.”
This passage highlights the importance of keeping the promises we make to God.
If we make a vow or commitment, we must follow through.
It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and fail to honor it.
Trusting God’s Will Over Our Own
Instead of making deals with God, the Bible teaches us to trust His will and surrender our desires to Him.
In Luke 22:42, we see Jesus Himself modeling this attitude when He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Even in His most difficult moment, Jesus trusted that God’s will was best, even though it meant suffering for Him.
This shows us the importance of submitting our desires and plans to God, trusting that His will is perfect, even when we don’t understand it.
Romans 12:2 encourages us to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Instead of making deals to get what we want, we should seek to understand and follow God’s will for our lives.
This requires a shift in focus—from trying to control our circumstances to trusting that God knows what is best for us.
Relying on God’s Grace, Not Deals
At the heart of the Christian faith is the belief that we are saved by grace, not by anything we can do to earn God’s favor.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
When we make deals with God, we are often trying to earn something from Him.
But the Bible teaches us that everything we receive from God is a gift of grace.
We don’t need to bargain or negotiate with God to receive His blessings.
Instead, we can trust in His love and grace, knowing that He provides for us according to His perfect plan.
Romans 8:32 offers this amazing assurance: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
If God has already given us the greatest gift—Jesus Christ—we can trust that He will meet our needs without us having to make deals or promises in exchange.
Final Thoughts
Making a deal with God is a natural response to difficult situations, but the Bible shows us a better way.
God desires a relationship with us that is based on trust, love, and grace, not on bargaining or transactions.
Instead of making deals, we are called to trust in God’s will, rely on His grace, and submit our desires to Him.
We can approach God with confidence, knowing that He knows our needs and loves us unconditionally.
As we navigate life’s challenges, let’s remember that God’s plans are always for our good, and we don’t need to make deals to receive His blessings.
We can simply trust in His perfect timing, wisdom, and love.