By Joe Slater via Bulletin Digest
“You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). That sounds perfectly reasonable and quite simple! In the interest of full disclosure, James pointed out other issues that complicated the matter. Church fights, greed, pride, and worldliness prevented favorable answers to their prayers. But the fact remains that in some cases they simply didn’t ask. Jesus Himself said, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). Jesus also taught that we should ask more than once. His parable of the unjust judge pictured a widow asking for justice from a crooked judge. She finally prevailed, not because the judge cared about justice, but because she kept on asking! If that happens with an ungodly judge, how much more will our righteous God do right by us when we ask Him? (See Luke 18:1- 8.) Some think they should pray only for others, that it’s selfish to pray for yourself. Praying for others certainly is commendable, but Jesus didn’t agree that praying for yourself is selfish! In fact, the very first part of His prayer in John 17 was for Himself (vv. 1-5). Who would accuse Jesus of being selfish? We don’t have to choose between praying for others and praying for ourselves. It isn’t either/or, it’s both/and! James instructs us to ask God for wisdom with the faith that He will hear and answer us (1:5-6). The sick and suffering should pray, and the elders should pray for them (5:13-15). Pray for those who confess sins (5:16).
You can extend the prayer list indefinitely! Just remember, “You do not have because you do not ask!” If you don’t ask, then the answer is, “No!”
Groveland, FL