The prayer of a righteous man has great power as it is working.
James 5:16
This verse in James might make it sound like the more righteous a person is the more God hears their prayers. Maybe you’ve heard people use this verse in that way, quoting it while boasting that a really godly person is praying for a pressing need. But is that what this verse teaches?
James says the prayer of the righteous man has great power as it is working. On the surface this seems to teach that the more righteous a person is the more powerful their prayers are. But the following phrase in verse 17 seems to contradict this. James points to Elijah as an example, and his wording is significant. What we might expect is something like, “Elijah was exceedingly righteous, and look at how God answered his prayers! So be righteous like Elijah and God will answer your prayers.” But that’s not what James argues. Instead, he writes, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…”
James seems to use this phrase “a righteous man” not to describe our sanctification status, but our justification status. Our sanctification is an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, renewing us in the whole person after the image of Christ. It’s a process and some are further along than others. However, our justification refers to the standing we have before God as a result of the cross. When we place our trust in Christ our sins are forgiven and we are clothed with the perfect righteousness of Christ. The Father said to Jesus at his baptism, “This is my son; with him I am well pleased.” The good news of the gospel is that through faith he says that to Christians as well because they have been united to Christ and clothed in his righteousness.
Further, the Greek word for “it is working” in verse 16 suggests that what is powerful, isn’t the righteous man, but the prayer. James is arguing that when it is God’s will to heal, then the prayer of a regular Christian for healing is very effective.
We learn from this verse that God doesn’t only work miraculously through super saints and people of great faith. He works through the prayers of regular Christians.
There is a story of two girls who were on a walk gathering wood to heat their home. On the way home the older sister collapsed from cholera and couldn’t walk. The younger 5-year-old sister couldn’t carry her and so they decided they would pray for God to rescue them. Then they sat on the sidewalk and waited for God to work. Down the street they saw a man come out of his factory and look up the street, then go back in his store. He did the same thing a second time. Then the third time he came out wearing his hat and started walking toward the girls. He saw them and picked up the sister and carried her home. Once he dropped them off at their home safely he told his side of the story. He said he was working on paychecks for his employees in his factory when all the sudden his vision went dark. He couldn’t see and he felt an odd sensation that someone outside wanted to see him. He went outside but didn’t see anyone. He went back inside but he still couldn’t see. He went outside again but didn’t see anyone. Finally, he went back inside but couldn’t see and could no longer grip his pen, so he put on his hat and went for a walk. It was then he saw the girls.
God answers the prayers of regular Christians like us. Were these little girls super saints? No. Prayer works because God is powerful, not because we are. Jesus said if we have faith as small as a mustard seed we can ask for a mountain to be thrown into the sea (Mark 11:23). An hour on our knees in prayer is more powerful than 10 on our feet. Therefore, let’s go to him often and earnestly in prayer since we cannot do anything apart from him.
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
