Prayer or Work

2 Kings 20:1-2, “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.”
James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” When we pray many times we expect God to do all the work.
Hezekiah prayed to God about his illness and pending death. God told him to do something. Had he not done what he was told he was going to die. By following God’s direction and doing something he lived for another fifteen years.
Two children were walking to school one day and as many children do they paid little attention to the time. As they walked one realized they were going to be late if they did not hurry. “We have got to run or we are going to be late,” he told his friend. “Let us stop and pray that we will not be late “, was the reply. “No let us pray while we run as fast as we can so we won’t be late,” as he started to run to school.
I heard a story about an athlete running in a track meet. As he crossed the finish line just ahead of his closest rival he was observed to have been talking as he ran. His coach congratulating him on his victory asks him who he was talking to during the race. “I was praying while I was running,” came the reply. “I told the Lord if you will pick my feet up I will put them down.” He asked for God’s help but he also did what he could to answer his own prayer.
When we ask God for help we must be willing to do whatever we can, using whatever means He may provide. Hezekiah heard he was going to die he asks God for a miracle, and God promised to give him fifteen more years. Place a lump of figs on the troubled boil he was told. God did the healing using human effort and natural means.
How often do we pray seeking God’s help then set back and wait for Him to do all the work. James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” When we ask the Lord to do something, we must also be ready to do our part. God will answer our prayer. He will send instructions for us to do something. Then we must act on those instructions with faith God will do what He said He would do.
Pray as if everything depends on God: work as if everything depends on us.