When Prayer is Not Enough

As Christians we believe in prayer. We believe in prayer because the Bible teaches us to pray, we have many examples including Jesus, the Disciples and Christians we have known and we’ve seen prayers answered.

But there are times when prayer is not enough.

That may shock you but hear me out.

I didn’t say there are times when you shouldn’t pray. I said there are times when you need to do something in addition to your prayers.

The Apostle James makes it clear in his discussion on faith and works (James 2:14-17). Apparently there was some discussion among the Christians regarding the issue of faith. His major point is that real faith is more than a mental exercise. Real faith will lead you to action.

James’ illustration is of a Christians who is without adequate clothing or food, and the other Christians say, in today’s vernacular, “God bless you” but they don’t help him or her in a tangible way. James says that that kind of faith is dead. IE it is not faith at all.

---

Real faith will lead you to action.

---

When you read a passage like this many questions come into your mind. What if the person is just lazy? What if they have squandered their money on frivolous things? What if they have been irresponsible with their money?

Those are legitimate questions to ask. At the same time that you are to be generous, you are also to be a good steward of God’s money (not your money).

When the Bible uses an illustration like this, you have to assume that the need is legitimate. God is not trying to trick you or cause confusion. This is a legit need and you are to help meet the need.

The point is that true saving faith will always manifest itself in action when there is a real need.

You don’t have to pray about whether you should help this person or not. If you have the ability you must. You don’t have to pray. Just do it.

Prayer is good and we should pray. But there are times when prayer is not enough. You need to act.

Let me address two other issues. The first is that James is addressing a church issue. He’s not talking about the homeless man holding a sign on the corner. You are not prohibited from helping him, but that’s not what James is talking about. He’s talking about someone in the family of God who has a need.

Secondly, even if the person has not handled his or her funds responsibly, there is nothing hindering you from helping them if you so choose. It might be that helping them will open other opportunities for you to have a ministry in their life. At this point helping is called grace.

You’ve been saved to be a blessing especially in times of genuine need. Pray, yes. Help, yes.

Stay in the Word

Pastor Steve

Why Does God Bless Us?

In a recent article a transgender individual claimed that God approved of his/her lifestyle because he/she had been so blessed in life. Certainly, the reasoning goes, blessing comes from God and if you have been blessed, God must approve of the way you live.

There are two primary lines of thought going on here. First, the individual in

---

ONLY THE WISDOM OF GOD, FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD

CAN GUIDE US INTO A LIFE THAT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD

AND THEREFORE PLEASING TO GOD.

---

question was right in that blessing comes from God (James 1:17). I applaud them for recognizing that. Many people don’t.

But the issue is not only WHERE but WHY. Why does God bless us? Is it because we are so good that we deserve His blessing? That seemed to be the logic used to justify a lifestyle that is far from in-line with a Biblical one.

Yes, blessing comes from God but it comes, not because of who we are or because of how we are living but because of who HE is. He is the God of all grace (1 Peter 5:10). It is from Him that blessings flow. Our lifestyles may play into it, but they are not the primary reason for His blessing. He blesses because that is His nature. Theologians refer to it as Common Grace. That is, God’s grace given to all of us equally regardless of our sin.

The second important issue is the matter of SOURCE. Where do people get their information, in this case about their lifestyle and about God’s blessing? Is it from the wisdom of man or the wisdom of God?

God’s view of the wisdom of man is that it is morally bankrupt (1 Corinthians 18ff). It is human wisdom that has led us into various kinds of immoral and ungodly lifestyles (Romans 1:18-32). Only the wisdom of God, found in the Word of God, can guide us into a life that is in agreement with God and therefore pleasing to God.

We don’t get to decide how God thinks or what He approves or disapproves. Those issues were settled long before we came on the scene and they have never changed.

Nor will they change (Psalm 119:89).

If you are a Christian, and you have read this far, you are no doubt nodding in agreement. However, if we are honest with ourselves, we have done the same thing. Perhaps on what we perceive to be a lesser scale, but still it is the same.

We have justified certain things in our lives that are contrary to the Word of God because God, in His grace has continued to bless us. And in our human wisdom we have decided that we must be alright with God. Or God is alright with us.

Well, we aren’t and He isn’t.

In His mercy and grace, God has overlooked more sins than He has punished. Lucky (that’s a deep theological term!) for us. But we must not presume upon His grace. He overlooks our sin to show us just how gracious and loving He is, not to say that He approves of our lifestyle choices.

Don’t confuse God’s grace with God’s approval.

God blesses us because, contrary to popular opinion, He is not a God of judgment but of grace (John 3:17).

It is incumbent upon us to respond to His grace in a way that promotes godliness, not that detracts from it.

Stay in the Word

Pastor Steve