Life Principles From JamesSample

The Most Disobeyed Verse

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

There are plenty of candidates in the Bible for the “most disobeyed verse.” In the book of James, I think of James 1:2: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. Or there’s James 1:19: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. And there are plenty of others. But at the top of the list, I would put James 5:14: Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Many churches don’t do this. Most Christians don’t obey this command. Why not? Is it a hassle to call for the elders? Is it a bit awkward to smear oil on someone’s forehead? Do we not still believe that God heals people? Or do we not really believe in the power of prayer?

Perhaps all of these factors are involved, but God’s command stands clear: do it. If there is sickness, then call for the elders, who are God’s representatives, to shepherd the body. Let them pray over you, anointing you with oil as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Who knows what God might do when we obey Him, no matter what?