This Week's Bulletin

What Does Your Prayer Life Say About You?
Bob Bauer

In Luke chapter eighteen, Jesus gives two illustrations concerning the principles of prayer. One is that of a widow who had been mistrusted and was seeking justice. The other was that of a self-righteous Jewish leader who exalted himself to God. Through their prayers we learn something about our attitudes concerning ourselves and our attitudes concerning God.

In the account of the widow we read, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'' Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?'" (Luke 18:1-8 NKJV). The widow needed help in order to receive justice. The only way for her to receive was to pester the unjust judge into helping her. Jesus spoke this parable to show that God is different than the unjust judge. As one writer penned, "The great truth which our Saviour designed to teach is . . . 1st: A poor widow, by her perseverance only, obtained from an unjust man what otherwise she would not have obtained. 2nd: God is not unjust. He is good, and disposed to do justice and to bestow mercy. If, therefore, this wicked man by persevering prayer was induced to do justice, how much more shall God, who is good, and who is not actuated by any such selfish and base principles, do justice to them who apply to him!" The widow needed help as we often need help, she obtained it only be pestering an unjust judge, however we can obtain assistance through beseeching a benevolent God who desires to assist (1 Peter 5:7).

In the account of the self-righteous Jewish leader, we read, "Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'" (Luke 18:9-14 NKJV). The Pharisee saw himself as self-righteous and thus not in need of God's forgiveness. The publican, on the other hand, saw himself as needing God's forgiveness and thus humbled himself before God.

What does your prayer life say about you? Do you seek assistance from God as one would from the unjust judge. Do you think that God does not desire to help? Do you believe that only through pestering God that He will answer your prayers? Perhaps you are like the self-righteous Jewish leader who saw himself as needing nothing from God and trusted in his own strengths and abilities? Do you exalt yourself before God or before yourself? Hopefully, your prayer life is like that of the publican – that of a humble servant beseeching a caring and benevolent God. Your prayer life says much about you and what you believe about God. Does it convey a message which you wish to send?