Question:
Is James 5:14, 15 for us, or was it only for the apostles? Why are so many of the Lord’s people sick and feeble if it is for us?
Answer:
James 5:14-16 reads as follows:
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
- The passage applies now as well as formerly. See verse 8, which shows that it has particular application to the last days: “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
- It is not a ceremony or plan for healing that is to be imposed or urged upon the sick, but it pertains to a request from the one suffering—“LET HIM call for the elders of the church.” Let him do it understandingly, with the right motive.
- A confession of sin must precede it. Failure to put away sin is destructive of faith and confidence in God. Failure to do this will doubtless account for many of the sick ones. Is one failing to do duty before God? Is he transgressing in any way God’s law? Has he wronged a fellow member or any human being? Does he hold or harbor hard feelings against anyone? If all or any of these things exist in the heart, faith can not claim God’s healing power; if God should heal under such circumstances, it would confirm the soul in its sin. He does not ask the sick one to wait till he, in weakness, makes all wrongs right. He will accept the promise of the sufferer but woe to him if he does not prove honest with God. “Confess your faults one to another,” those, of course, which ought to be confessed to man; and confess all to God; and then in unity of heart pray for each other.
- Do not demand faith from others that you do not exercise yourself. In nearly all cases of healing, God will put the burden of prevailing prayer upon someone, but the sick one, unless a child or incapacitated in mind, must grasp the promise.
- “The prayer of faith” lays hold upon God’s Word and asks in harmony with God’s will. God does not heal us so that we may have more strength for selfish purposes; He does not heal us because it is cheaper or to save us from mere pain, but always for His glory, which is our highest good. Sometimes God can teach us better lessons by leaving us sick. (See Psalms 119:67, 71, 75; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10). But He loves us nonetheless. While handkerchiefs taken from Paul’s body healed the sick (see Acts 19:11, 12), the apostle writes of a beloved servant of God, “Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” 2 Timothy 4:20. Let us know that we are in harmony with God’s will, and then we shall know indeed that He is working for us in the very best way. If we would reap the blessing, let us attend well to the sowing. (See James 5:16).
