Pray For Others Lest You Sin

Is it a sin to not pray for others?  When we think of sin I am sure a failure to pray for others does not come immediately to mind like say theft, murder, adultery,  lying, and other more notorious sins.  Yet, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 12, verse 23, we read this statement from Samuel spoken to the children of Israel:  “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” (NKJV)

Now I am not Samuel but it makes you stop and think does it not?  Samuel was praying for God’s people.  Are we exempt from doing the same?  Are we under no obligation?

During Jesus’ ministry he once was asked what the greatest commandment in the law was. (Matt. 22:36)  His response was love God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37 NKJV) but he then went on to talk about the second greatest commandment which was “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:39 NKJV)  Do we pray for ourselves?  If we do are we not under obligation to pray for our neighbor?  We are if we love him.

We are clearly commanded to love one another as disciples of Jesus for none other than Jesus himself gave the commandment when he said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34 NKJV)  Thus in the book of 1 John we read in chapter 3, verse 16, “By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (NKJV)

If I am to love you as Jesus has loved you (and loved me), to the extent he gave his life for you, then surely I am to pray for you.  Jesus prayed for us (John 17:20) and we are to “be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us.” (Eph. 5:1-2 NKJV) 

But, we are not just to love and pray for our neighbors and the brethren but even for our enemies for Jesus himself has told us, “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44 NKJV).  You cannot love your enemy without seeking his welfare and that certainly involves praying for him.

Paul asked the brethren to pray for him and his company, “Brethren, pray for us.” (1 Thess. 5:25 NKJV--see also 3 Thess. 3:1)  The writer of the book of Hebrews requests prayers when he says simply “Pray for us.” (Heb. 13:18 NKJV) 

One prayer request by Paul seems to be more than just a request.  To the Romans he writes, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” (Rom. 15:30 NKJV)

That one especially touches the heart, “I beg you.”  Have you ever wished people would pray for you?  I have wished they would pray for me.  We often feel alone.  People know us but it seems too many are just figures passing in the night.  They stop long enough to say hello, smile, and ask how you are and then they are off and gone and you are left alone with every single problem you ever had and no one cares, or so it seems.  We just wish someone cared enough to pray for us.

What is wanted is not just “Father, be with (you fill in the name).”  What we want is people who really care, who really love us, whose prayer for us will be fervent, zealous, and intent.  We want a sincere prayer from the heart, not just a word said in passing.  When we become Christians who have taken God’s command to heart to love one another only then will we get the kind of prayers that are sought and effective.  It is “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man” that “avails much.” (James 5:16 NKJV)

Paul prayed for others continually.  To the Romans he says, “Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.” (Rom. 1:9 NKJV)  To the Colossians he wrote, “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” (Col. 1:3 NKJV)  To the Philippians, he wrote, “In every prayer of mine making request for you all.” (Philippians 1:4 NKJV)  To the Thessalonians, he wrote, “We also pray always for you.” (2 Thess. 1:11 NKJV)  In a personal letter to Timothy he says, “Without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.” (2 Tim. 1:3 NKJV)

We ought to pray for one another.  Paul says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1 NKJV)  Did Christ pray for his disciples?  To ask is to answer.  We are to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17 NKJV)  A question we all need to ask ourselves is how much of my praying time will I devote to praying for others?  When I do pray for them will it be with a deep heartfelt concern for their welfare or just to fulfill a requirement?  I guess it comes down to how much I really love.  That seems to be the bottom line does it not?  Does what is happening in the other guy’s life make any difference to me?  The Bible teaches it should.

Jesus tells us to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44 NKJV)

Paul, in 1 Tim. 2:1-4, adds this, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (NKJV)

God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)  In Rom. 10:1 Paul speaks of his praying for those who were not Christians for his desire for them was that they might be saved.  In 2 Cor. 5:11 he spoke of knowing the terror of the Lord and thus sought to persuade men.  We too know something about the terror of the Lord and ought to be praying for those who need to obey the gospel, praying fervently on their behalf, praying that such events might transpire in their life that their eyes will be opened and they can see their need and will turn to the Lord. 

We ought to be praying for the needy, the poor, the sick, the lonely, the alien, for those who have fallen away, the aged, the young, parents, children, and many, many others for the list could go on?  I have all of the proof I need to make up my mind whether or not it is a sin to not pray on behalf of others.  I will pray for others and hope they will pray for me.

Will it do any good?  James said it would (James 5:16) but it will have to be a “fervent prayer of a righteous man.” (NKJV)  There are many, many people who need prayers beginning with little children to the very aged, and yet there is, I fear, a shortage of righteous men and women to do the job.  It is a good work greatly needed.

“Epaphras,” Paul told the Colossians, “greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers.” (Col 4:12 NKJV)  The prayer of a righteous man is a labor of love.  May God send us more righteous men and women willing to labor fervently in prayer for others and I hope some of those prayers will be for you and me. 

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