Years ago, I taught on Luke 18:1-5 (verses below, click here for the audio of the class) about the parable of the persistent widow and developed some thoughts that might be pertinent to you today.
In our world, commerce is based on the idea of a transaction. I give you something (like money), and you give me something in return (like a service or a product). We are immersed in this concept. Give = Get.
The world treats prayer in the same way. Note how it is portrayed in books, television, and film. Worldly prayers (aka the pagan prayer) are a transaction: “I give, I get.” Or through persistence, pleading, begging, bribery, or flattery, we get what we want: “If you will just give me this right now, I will do that for you in the future!”
Every Christian starts their faith journey with this preconceived idea about prayer. We were taught that if you do or say the right thing or, like the persistent widow of the parable ask fervently, our wish will be granted. Because that is the way business works. It is a simple transaction. Quid pro quo.
But with God? It is not.
It is never a transaction.
Read the parable and notice that God is not the judge who relents after being cajoled into shame. It even states that the judge, in this parable, did not fear God nor respect man.
It is a parable of contrast, not comparison. We cannot compare that “transaction” of persistence to our relationship with God. In fact, in 18:1 Luke writes that this parable was told so that the disciples should always pray (“at all times”) and not lose heart. Not a teaching that if we keep haranguing and coaxing, God will eventually relent. Instead, it is the opposite.
Jesus is teaching us that God wants us to always be praying. (Ask, Seek, Knock.) And in contrast to the pagan judge who rolls his eyes and relents, God welcomes our prayers with open arms–anytime, anywhere.
Today God welcomes your prayers. Amidst violence in the street, storms on the coast, tragedy in the home, rampant godlessness at every turn, discourse on ideas becoming ad hominem attacks, and disappointment in the publishing industry and our writing, we need to pray more than ever.
God may not grant us our wishes just because we pray. But he is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us (Eph. 3:20). We have been taught to pray in this way:
You are holy and your will is what we seek (we seek you first).
Give us our daily bread (only you can provide, for you are the source of it all).
Forgive us our sins (only you can wash us clean).
Keep us from temptation (only you can protect us from our selfish desires).
For your Glory.
For your Kingdom (the now and the not yet).
_____
Luke 18:1-5
He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out’” (NASB).
Thank you Steve.
Beautifully put!
Excellent reminder of how we should be communicating with God. I take it a step further and in addition to praying constantly, I try to make sure a good portion of my “prayer” is praise and thanksgiving. It is important to me to express my gratitude for those answers I’ve been given…as well as those still to come.
This was a wonderful post needed during turbulent times in a chaotic world. Thank you!
Splendid post, Steve. Many thanks.
Prayer is every word you write,
it’s everything you say
in the darkness of the night
and in the light of day.
Prayer’s in every thing you do,
in every nail you set,
in every joint bonded in glue
just so you don’t forget
that you’re not asking any favours,
any shaming divination.
You are saved by Christ’s blood-labours,
and your situation
is that of a recipient
of grace for the penitent.
Oooooh, this is right on, Andrew!! ((hugs)) and prayers!
Thanks Pam!
This is such a needed word. Thank you for sharing.
My work is a prayer. Every thought, every action, every hour of every day.
Well said.
Thank you, Steve! In a world where so-called Christians basically teach manifesting through prayer, this is such a necessary reminder that faith does not equal getting what we want, and not getting what we want doesn’t mean our faith was inadequate. I wish to share this with so many internet trolls! 😉
Thank you Steve. I never understood that parable, and now I do. For a very long time, my only prayer was one of thanks. Then I began to pray “Lord, stand by me” when I needed it. And sometimes the result is immediate and almost miraculous. And then I pray my thanks over and over.
This is a wonderful reminder. Thank you for sharing!
A very sound read. Reminded me of a time when I was a hippie and my Dad made a comment that when we read our Bible, God breathes into our spirit. He had 3 rules; #1: Read your Bible and pray!
#2: Read your Bible and pray. #3 (think you know what it is😂
These twin saying are true. Prayer honors God, who is eternally holy, honorable above all. This same God honors prayer. This is an amzing conversation for us to engage. Remember Paul’s urging in Romans 12:12 to continue, instant in prayer, ie. be faithful in prayer.
Thank you, Mr. Laube. You have challenged my understanding of this passage and, ultimately, my Lord’s character. This will undoubtedly be one of those small but pivotal points in my walk with Him that will forever have an effect on me. God bless you for your faithfulness.
Amy
This parable and the Lord’s Prayer got me thinking and reflecting. Sometimes, I am the widow. Sometimes, I have too much in common with the judge.
The prayer Jesus gave us isn’t meant to be a chant. I think it’s an outline of how to pray and an acknowledgment of the relationship we have with God. Always, God is for me and within me, worthy of my praise. and guiding me through His word. I am equipped with what I need when I need it. I am reminded to do everything out of love and forgive compassionately, for that is in alignment with God’s nature.
You post started me thinking about my prayer life and how transactional it was becoming. God can use His Word, people amd circumstances to get His point across. I think today He used you. Thanks for answering His call with this post.
Thank you for those words. Very helpful. God Bless you.
This is something I’ve been learning/struggling with all year. I’ve always been a little confused by that parable, because people do frame it as the judge being God, and that we should pray persistently about what we want. And I do think that, if we truly want something, it’s okay to pray persistently for it until God changes the desire or answers one way or another. But that attitude needs to be coupled with the “not thy will, but thine” mentality. This year, I noticed when I changed my attitude in prayer, the prayers changed too, and the new prayers were answered in a far better way than anything the “old” prayers could have resulted in. God really does know what’s best for us.
Good evening Steve,
This subject is vet thought provoking. I’m fortunate in that my Grandmother taught me at a very young age (since I can remember) that Jesus loves me and is my friend. However, after her going Home when I was five yrs old, the church we attended presented God as a ‘hard taskmaster’. I now know thru life’s experiences that is not true. The Holy Trinity desires not only relationship, also fellowship. Dialog, not monolog.
Thank you for the reminder! 😉
Thank you for this, Steve! Like a few others, I was also taught that parable was to teach us to keep praying until God said YES.
It was confusing to me since the answer I got for my many prayers to heal my special needs daughter from her daily seizures was, “I am able to heal your daughter. But if I choose not to, will you still love Me?”
That was 28 years ago. I said yes then. I’m still saying yes. But whenever I share that with some Christians, they remind of the persistent widow. And “by His stripes, we are healed.” Which I believe is also taken out of context most of the time.
I know what I heard from God. I know my Father’s voice. But I was so unsettled because of that parable. Now, I can rest in God’s plan, even though there are days when I’m so exhausted and stressed I still cry out for healing for Anna. I can now remind myself it’s not about my begging. It’s about dialoging with Him, learning from Him, trusting Him.
I, too, loved the essay. I think it corrects misguided thinking. I believe it also answers the age-old question, “Why pray at all if God’s will supersedes everything?” We pray because we’ve been admonished to pray. All. The. Time. May God bless you as you continue to pray for Anna.
You read the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 and you see the point: she keeps coming, not paying. That’s not a transaction. You don’t give God words and get a tidy outcome back. I reckon that’s freeing, because it kills the give=get mindset you bring from the shop counter.
Sound insight! Our Holy Lord & Savior gave all He was and had for an intimate relationship with those whom He calls His Bride.
He longs for intimacy and continually beckons for time alone with us.
When that is sought for, made a goal, and achieved by His children it creates a hunger a much deeper devotion An amazing journey that we are all on…
Thank you for this needed correction to how I think about prayer. The contrast you draw between the persistent widow and a God who welcomes our prayers with open arms reframes Luke 18 for me — persistence as relationship, not negotiation. Your walk through the Lord’s Prayer as an outline rather than a chant is something I will carry into my own prayer life this week.