---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody ever got anything from God on the…"
description: "\"Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Haven fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png"
---

#  Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he…

![“Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Haven fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it's because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That's the source of everything.” quote by Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png)

> “Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Haven fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it's because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That's the source of everything.”

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

God’s answers to prayer stem from His inherent goodness and benevolence, not from human deserving.

**In simple terms:** God helps because He is good, not because we earn it.

Key Takeaway

Trust in divine generosity.

Themes

faith grace divine nature

Mood

contemplative hopeful

Type

spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- prayer
- suffering
- moral struggle
- spiritual reliance

Key Concepts

theology humility

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you expect rewards for good deeds?
- How does recognizing unconditional grace change your life?

A Different Perspective

Human expectations of merit can cause disappointment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Answered prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-prayers/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Answers Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers-prayer/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Benevolence God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence-god-294744/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Commitment to god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment-to-god/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Deserving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserving/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/editors/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fallen/) [Following jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following-jesus/) [God Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-answers/) [God answers prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-answers-prayers/) [God Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-does/) [God is good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-is-good/) [God within us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-within-us/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-god/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Greatness of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness-of-god/) [Have faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/have-faith/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lovingkindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovingkindness/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mentor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) [Mighty god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mighty-god/) [Pastor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pastor/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-god/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Servant of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant-of-god/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Trust in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-in-god/)

## Related quotes

> [God answers prayer in His own way, not ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/god-answers-prayer-in-his-own-way-not-ours/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [God answers prayer in three ways: yes, no, and wait awhile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/god-answers-prayer-in-three-ways-yes-no-and-wait-awhile/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [God answers prayer on the ground of Redemption and on no other ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-answers-prayer-on-the-ground-of-redemption-and-on-no-other-ground/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [My life is one long daily, hourly record of answered prayer. For physical health, for mental overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for errors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-slessor/my-life-is-one-long-daily-hourly-record-of-answered-prayer-for/)

[Mary Slessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-slessor/)

> [If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-pray-only-because-we-want-answers-we-will-become-irritated-and/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Whenever the insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off the track. The meaning of prayer is that we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/whenever-the-insistence-is-on-the-point-that-god-answers-prayer-we/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Not thinking critically, I assumed that the successful prayers were proof that God answers prayer while the failures were proof that there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/not-thinking-critically-i-assumed-that-the-successful-prayers-were/)

[Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/)

> [God answers prayers when you least expect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-answers-prayers-when-you-least-expect-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You can whisper in a crowd to Him. You can cry when you're alone to Him. You don't have to pray out loud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-adarkwah/you-can-whisper-in-a-crowd-to-him-you-can-cry-when-you-re-alone-to/)

[Michael Adarkwah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-adarkwah/)

> [God answers first the prayers we should have prayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/god-answers-first-the-prayers-we-should-have-prayed/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [“According to some believers, God answers prayers in one of three ways: “Yes,” “No,” and “Wait.” This sounds reasonable and even wise before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armin-navabi/according-to-some-believers-god-answers-prayers-in-one-of-three-ways/)

[Armin Navabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armin-navabi/)

> [God answers prayers, but he doesn't always answer it your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/god-answers-prayers-but-he-doesn-t-always-answer-it-your-way/)

[Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/)

> [God answers the prayer we ought to have made rather than the prayer we did make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/god-answers-the-prayer-we-ought-to-have-made-rather-than-the-prayer/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

> [If God Answers Our Prayer, He Is Increasing Our Faith. If He Delays, He Is Increasing Our Patience If He Doesn't Answer, He Knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-god-answers-our-prayer-he-is-increasing-our-faith-if-he-delays-he/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [“The God-always-answers-prayer sophistry leaves the praying man without discipline. By the exercise of this bit of smooth casuistry he ignores the necessity to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/the-god-always-answers-prayer-sophistry-leaves-the-praying-man/)

[A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/)

## More by Aiden Wilson Tozer

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [It's time for us to rise up, get out of the rut and routine, and begin to take our Christian faith seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/it-s-time-for-us-to-rise-up-get-out-of-the-rut-and-routine-and-begin/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [The true Christian ideal is not to be happy but to be holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-true-christian-ideal-is-not-to-be-happy-but-to-be-holy/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-goodness-of-god-is-infinitely-more-wonderful-than-we-will-ever-be/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [A holy man isn't aware that he's holy..As soon as we begin to talk about how holy we are, we aren't holy any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/a-holy-man-isn-t-aware-that-he-s-holy-as-soon-as-we-begin-to-talk/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [There is a strain of loneliness infecting many Christians, which only the presence of God can cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/there-is-a-strain-of-loneliness-infecting-many-christians-which-only/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Where God is not glorified, that place is sick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/where-god-is-not-glorified-that-place-is-sick/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Hope is the music of the whole Bible, the heartbeat, the pulse and the atmosphere of the whole Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/hope-is-the-music-of-the-whole-bible-the-heartbeat-the-pulse-and-the/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/christian-liberty-is-freedom-from-sin-not-freedom-to-sin/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [Outside of the will of god, there is nothing I want. And in the will of god there is nothing I fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/outside-of-the-will-of-god-there-is-nothing-i-want-and-in-the-will-of/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

[Explore all 720 Aiden Wilson Tozer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

## More Answered prayers quotes

> [“Dear Lord, thank You for answered prayers and humans who do Your work here on earth. Please send Your comfort to all the animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guideposts/dear-lord-thank-you-for-answered-prayers-and-humans-who-do-your-work/)

[Guideposts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guideposts/)

> [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [Our Lord never referred to unanswered prayer. He taught that prayers are always answered: “Everyone who asks receives”. And He implied that prayers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-never-referred-to-unanswered-prayer-he-taught-that-prayers/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Today, Jesus stands ready to hear your cry and to answer prayer for you. He is interested in every detail of your life. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-kuhlman/today-jesus-stands-ready-to-hear-your-cry-and-to-answer-prayer-for/)

[Kathryn Kuhlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-kuhlman/)

> [Never have false hope for granted wishes, but always have true faith in answered prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-have-false-hope-for-granted-wishes-but-always-have-true-faith/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-is-a-general-kind-of-praying-which-fails-for-lack-of-precision/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [Delays are as much a part of God plan as answered prayers. God wants you to trust him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/delays-are-as-much-a-part-of-god-plan-as-answered-prayers-god-wants/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [The history of missions is the history of answered prayer. It is the key to the whole mission problem. All human means are secondary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-marinus-zwemer/the-history-of-missions-is-the-history-of-answered-prayer-it-is-the/)

[Samuel Marinus Zwemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-marinus-zwemer/)

> [On the ground of our own goodness we cannot expect to have our prayers answered. But Jesus is worthy, and for His sake we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-muller/on-the-ground-of-our-own-goodness-we-cannot-expect-to-have-our/)

[George Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-muller/)

> [“May God overflow your life with bountiful blessings of grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/may-god-overflow-your-life-with-bountiful-blessings-of-grace/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers, there aren't any that go 'unanswered.' His silence speaks volumes if you're listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-of-god-s-greatest-gifts-are-unanswered-prayers-there-aren-t-any/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/prayer-is-not-so-much-an-act-as-it-is-an-attitude-an-attitude-of/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/the-story-of-every-great-christian-achievement-is-the-history-of/)

[Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/)

> [God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man -- several times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-graham/god-has-not-always-answered-my-prayers-if-he-had-i-would-have-married/)

[Ruth Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-graham/)

> [Often a healing takes place in ourselves as we pray for the healing of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-debakey/often-a-healing-takes-place-in-ourselves-as-we-pray-for-the-healing/)

[Michael E. DeBakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-debakey/)

[Browse all 132 Answered prayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answered-prayers/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Haven fallen, man deserves only punishment and death. So if God answers prayer it's because God is good. From His goodness, His lovingkindness, His good-natured benevolence, God does it! That's the source of everything.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Aiden Wilson Tozer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the-grounds-that-he-deserved-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Answered prayers"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the-grounds-that-he-deserved-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_answered-prayers_nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the_1482412.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nobody ever got anything from God on the grounds that he deserved it. Haven fallen, man deserves only…” — Aiden Wilson Tozer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Aiden Wilson Tozer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Nobody ever got anything from God...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the-grounds-that-he-deserved-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/nobody-ever-got-anything-from-god-on-the-grounds-that-he-deserved-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
