You Gotta Ask! (Clap Clap Clap)

At a recent birthday party I overheard some kids singing Matthew 7:7. The verse was fine; it was the chorus that was a problem.

Ask and it will be given to you
Seek and you will find
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
You gotta ask! (clap clap clap)
You gotta seek! (clap clap clap)
You gotta knock! (clap clap clap)

Now. I'm all for helping kids remember Bible verses. If I'd been made to sing songs like this as a child, I'd probably know more of my Bible today. But this song is a particularly egregious example of focusing on the wrong part of the verse, and letting Law crowd out Gospel. Matthew 7:7 is not primarily about what we have to do...it's about what God has promised to do. This verse isn't about asking, seeking, and knocking as much as it is about receiving, finding, and being welcomed. I'd prefer something like this:

He's gonna give! (clap clap clap)
He's gonna show! (clap clap clap)
He's gonna hug! (clap clap clap)

After all, Matthew 7:11 says, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" This little section is about the gift-giver! It's not about what the receiver has to do to get the gift.

We're evil, and even we know how to give good gifts. Our God is gracious, and he has given us the greatest gift of all: his Son, Jesus Christ, who is an answered petition, a revealed treasure, and an open door. Let's sing about that.