Devotions

The Right Prescription

 James 5:14  -  Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Three life insurance agents were having dinner and bragging to each other about the speed of their companies service.  The first told about a client who had died unexpectedly on Monday.  The company got the news that night and the check was in the mail Wednesday.  The second agent said, that’s nothing, we had a client die on Monday also.  Within two hours we heard about it and I handed the family a check that evening.  The third agent said, boys, let me explain speed to you.  Our office is on the thirty fifth floor of a skyscraper.  One of our clients was washing windows on the fifty second floor when he slipped and fell.  We handed him a check as he passed by our floor.   I’ve been a part of many debates concerning James chapter five.  In my reading of this passage it has far more to do with “faith” and with “prayer” than it does with “oil.”  Some debate whether James is talking about spiritual sickness or physical sickness.  You don’t have to look too far to see examples of both.  Satan is like a roaring lion and he is seeking those he can devour.  And the sad conclusion is he is having his way with far too many who possess the power to resist him.   But it’s not just spiritual sickness we are seeing.  Many in our Church family have been battling physical illness.  A number of brothers and sisters in the hospital.  Get’s hard to deal with this sometimes even in my own life but I come back to two biblical realities that I hang onto.   Reality #1.  It’s not God’s will that everyone be physically healed.

Remember Paul’s thorn in the flesh.  It’s why I have trouble with modern day faith healers that hold these massive rallies.  I believe in faith, and I believe in healing, but it’s God who holds the power.  If these healers are authentic, I welcome them to walk the halls of Riley’s and go to town.   Reality #2.  Ultimate healing is to go to heaven.

If I did not believe that I could not do my job.  Some of the most heartfelt prayers I’ve ever heard were those asking the Lord to take someone and end their suffering.  Spiritual healing or Physical healing – James writes a prescription much like a Dr.  to someone who is sick and tired – the prescription – prayer and faith.