Prayer Without Works Is Dead


After Pedring, now it’s Quiel. As one newspaper puts it, “There will be no rest for the flood-weary.” While Pedring was howling, I could not believe my eyes as I watch a construction crane spinning out of control on top of a building. Pedring’s total toll already climbed to 43 deaths (17 were children), 44 injured and 30 still missing. And we are still counting! Rescue efforts in flooded (read: submerged) areas are still ongoing. “Palay losses in Central Luzon, the country’s ‘rice granary,’ has exceeded P4 billion even as the full extent of damage wrought by Pedring is still unfolding.” (http://inquirer.net/) Now, the weather bureau warns that Quiel is stronger, “threatening the northern and central regions, the very same regions barely recovering from Typhoon ‘Pedring,’ with more rains and floods and disrupting reconstruction efforts.” (Ibid)

It is my prayer that God would embrace those who are most affected with His comforting love. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” (Psalm 46:1-3, ESV)

It is also my prayer that Christ followers would rise up to the challenge. In times like this, our “God bless you!” wishes won’t suffice. It’s really pathetic when we open our closet jampacked with clothes then we sigh, “I have nothing to wear.” It’s actually sad when food just spoil in the fridge because we have so many leftovers.“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16) So, haul those clothes to the nearest relief organization. (Please give clothes that you would actually wear yourself, okay?) And when you send food, please keep instant noodles to a minimum. I remember reading about people in evacuation centers complaining that noodles were already coming out of their ears and noses. It’s not that they were choosy. Just imagine eating only noodles three times a day every day. Their situation is already stressful. Let us not add to it but rather alleviate it. I believe the extra thought and effort we put into the help we send would be greatly appreciated.

To paraphrase a verse, prayers without works are dead. Yes, we pray. But we do more than pray. We become God’s answer to our prayers.

Brethren, let us see our faith in action.

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