Prayer – the most practical of all helps

Prayer – the most practical of all helps

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16).

It’s a common human experience to have loved ones with needs where we are willing to help but unable. Our inability may come from lack of resources or just from being a long way from them.

Being a long way from a beloved needy person is a painful experience. Because they matter to us we want to help them. If we were there we’d be the first in and the last out with whatever practical help was needed: deliver food, clean a house, help pack things away, or to give the gift or time to walk and talk through things.

Speaking personally, I have dear family and friends who are long distances from me within my own country and in other lands. I yearn to help when they have needs.

Distance challenges our ability to give help.

However a praying friend can be a close friend. Distance, like time, is a construct that can be overcome in eternal perspective. Prayer collapses the constructs of time and space.

As we approach the heavenly throne with confidence in the willingness and ability of the One seated there (Heb 4:14-16), we do something intensely and usefully practical for our loved one. Instead of being frustrated by our inability to help, we are channelling our loving concern into seeking help from the most useful helper of all. And of course, it’s good to tell the loved one that we are praying them and what we are praying.

When we think about it, prayer is the most practical help of all. When we help in person we do so within the limits of our wisdom and resources. That’s important, but it can be misplaced help that also falls short of the needs. However, we help through prayer, we seek help from the unlimited wisdom and resources of God. God’s help is never misplaced and his sufficiency never falls short of our loved ones needs.

My friend Tom

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My friend Tom.

I first met Tom in January 1979. My wife and I went to Tasmania for a holiday, along with our young daughter. On the Sunday we went to a local Church. Tom was an elder aged in his 40s, spoke to us after the service and invited us to his place for lunch. His wife was away, so it was Tom, his young daughter and us for lunch. We ate, talked and went on our way with a feeling of warm welcome.

I was struck by Tom’s hospitality to us strangers and used it a few times in stories over the years.

34 years later I went to the same church, this time to speak at something. I was sent to Tom’s house for my billet and met his wife Nola for the first time. I was again there a couple more times in the following years.

Nothing much has changed.

Tom is not as mentally sharp as he was in 1979 and sometimes forgets things. Nola is also getting on. But Tom and Nola still invite strangers home to stay or for meals. They maintain a global missions awareness and pray for missions daily. They are active church members, are found at every church event and take a keen interest in people from other lands who come to their city.  Tom and Nola have widespread global contacts and dropped in on these wherever they went on a recent and extended oversees trip.

Tom and Nola will never lack friends. Their warm Christian hospitality echos the hospitality of God. The number they have served and the blessing they have been to them is known only to heaven.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers …(Heb 13:1)

Therefore an elder … must be hospitable (1 Tim 3:2)