God Expects Effort
May 21, 2008
Recently in the news, there was a story about parents failing to seek medical attention for their diabetic child. The child ended up dying and the parents were charged with a crime. The reason the parents chose not to take their child to the hospital was their religious beliefs. They were waiting for God to heal their child instead of asking a doctor to do so. This tragic situation might make religion, or even the Bible, look bad to some. However, the Bible does not teach simply waiting for God to fix everything while doing nothing ourselves.
Although there is nothing funny about what happened with these parents and their child, the story reminds me of a joke that I've heard several times. It starts out describing a town that is suffering from terrible flooding. One man who did not make it out fast enough climbs up to his roof to avoid the flood waters and prays for God to rescue him. Soon after, someone comes by on a canoe and offers to rescue him. He turns down the offer, saying that God will save him. Later, someone comes by in a motor boat and offers to rescue him. Again, he turns down the offer, saying that God will save him. When a helicopter comes and offers him a ride, he turns that down too. Finally, the man can see he is not going to be saved and so he asks God why He didn't rescue him. God replies, "I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What else did you need?"
The Bible tells us that prayer is useful. James 5:16 says that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Not everything that we request in prayer will be granted. Selfish requests will not be granted (James 4:3). Prayers made without faith will not be effective either (James 1:6). In addition, what we ask for may just not be for the best. That was the case with Paul when his prayer to be healed was not granted (2nd Corinthians 12:7-10). However, many prayers will be granted (Matthew 7:7-11). And the Bible encourages frequent prayer (1st Thessalonians 5:17).
The Bible encourages prayer, but it does not encourage laziness. God may grant our requests but he also expects us to work for them. On many occasions, He told the Israelites He would give them success in battle, but they still had to fight the battles (Numbers 21:33-35; Judges 4:4-24; Judges 7:1-23). When a man named Naaman was healed by a prophet of God, he was expecting the prophet to just come down and heal him. Instead, he had a task to perform (2nd Kings 5:9-14). When Peter was rescued from prison, he wasn't just spirited away. He was given the opportunity to escape, but it was up to him to get up and get out (Acts 12:5-11). The Bible says that God will take care of the physical needs of His believers (Matthew 6:25-34). Yet, we are still expected to work to provide for ourselves (2nd Thessalonians 3:10).
Trusting in God and asking for His help are things that the Bible encourages. However, the Bible does not encourage just waiting around for God to fix everything and doing nothing ourselves. The Bible shows that God will help and take care of His believers, but He also expects us to help ourselves.
Although there is nothing funny about what happened with these parents and their child, the story reminds me of a joke that I've heard several times. It starts out describing a town that is suffering from terrible flooding. One man who did not make it out fast enough climbs up to his roof to avoid the flood waters and prays for God to rescue him. Soon after, someone comes by on a canoe and offers to rescue him. He turns down the offer, saying that God will save him. Later, someone comes by in a motor boat and offers to rescue him. Again, he turns down the offer, saying that God will save him. When a helicopter comes and offers him a ride, he turns that down too. Finally, the man can see he is not going to be saved and so he asks God why He didn't rescue him. God replies, "I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What else did you need?"
The Bible tells us that prayer is useful. James 5:16 says that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Not everything that we request in prayer will be granted. Selfish requests will not be granted (James 4:3). Prayers made without faith will not be effective either (James 1:6). In addition, what we ask for may just not be for the best. That was the case with Paul when his prayer to be healed was not granted (2nd Corinthians 12:7-10). However, many prayers will be granted (Matthew 7:7-11). And the Bible encourages frequent prayer (1st Thessalonians 5:17).
The Bible encourages prayer, but it does not encourage laziness. God may grant our requests but he also expects us to work for them. On many occasions, He told the Israelites He would give them success in battle, but they still had to fight the battles (Numbers 21:33-35; Judges 4:4-24; Judges 7:1-23). When a man named Naaman was healed by a prophet of God, he was expecting the prophet to just come down and heal him. Instead, he had a task to perform (2nd Kings 5:9-14). When Peter was rescued from prison, he wasn't just spirited away. He was given the opportunity to escape, but it was up to him to get up and get out (Acts 12:5-11). The Bible says that God will take care of the physical needs of His believers (Matthew 6:25-34). Yet, we are still expected to work to provide for ourselves (2nd Thessalonians 3:10).
Trusting in God and asking for His help are things that the Bible encourages. However, the Bible does not encourage just waiting around for God to fix everything and doing nothing ourselves. The Bible shows that God will help and take care of His believers, but He also expects us to help ourselves.