GIVE; OR STOP PRAYING

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 31, 1901

GIVE; OR STOP PRAYING.

The Christian.

THE colored woman who, with eyes closed, was singing,— “Fly abroad, thou mighty gospel,” was nudged by the collector with his contribution box, while he said, “No use in singing, ‘Fly abroad, dou mighty gospel,’ widout you gib to make um fly.”

The little son of the man who had prayed one morning at the family altar that the Lord would supply the wants of the destitute and needy, said, when prayer was finished, “Father, if I had your grain bin, I would answer that prayer myself.”

It is worse than useless, it is impudent, to ask God to do what He has been asking and commanding us to do ourselves. Suppose your child should undertake to work on that plan, and when you give him his tools, his work, and his orders, should then kneel down and beg you to do what

he is able to do, and what you had just told him that he must do for you. Such a request to a father would be an insult; what, then, must it be when made in the presence of the great God?

There has been too much of this, and it is time it ended. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, nor negligent about His work; but He asks us to perform our promises, and to fulfill the duties which He lays upon us. And if we refuse to do what He commands us, it is vain to pray to God for money or for help. Let us do our part, and His aid will not be withheld.