Praying in Vain

To Whom Should We Go for Authoritative Answers: Part One, Section C

The previous post introduced the issue of praying for wisdom regarding our health.

If we ask God to heal us, or give us wisdom, or give wisdom to our doctor, but we have never sought God through His Word, but have idols in our hearts, our prayers could be in vain.

Consider this example from Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 14: 1-3.

Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.

And the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?

The elders of Israel had come to Ezekiel to seek counsel of the Lord. Yet, the Lord knew that they had set up idols in their hearts, and were not really interested in seeking the Lord. The Lord was not pleased and responded by saying, "Should I be consulted by them at all?"

It is as if God was saying, "What right do these men have to come and seek my counsel? They do not really put their trust in Me. They put their trust in the idols of the heart."

It can be the same way if we seek God in prayer, but we never really go to God, in His Word, for the answers, but rather we trust in the answers of men.

Idols in the Heart

How can we expect God to give us answers concerning our health if we have idols in our hearts?

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Dr. Jacobson, author of The Word on Health, says this about idols: "Sometimes we fool ourselves. We think our faith is in God, only to find that, when it is tested, that it is in ourselves or in something or someone else. Without realizing it, we can make something an "idol." How can we know that we have an idol, a false god? Our "god" is the object of our faith - what we look to for our most basic needs."

He goes on to question where our confidence from protection against disease comes, "Is it the medical profession, medication, a diet, supplements, or herbs? Or is it the One who made me, the Great Physician?"

And concerning whom we credit for restoring health, "Is it the doctors, a diet program, a drug, a supplement or other product? Or is it the Lord?"

Self Examination

Please examine your life to see if you have made an idol in your heart. Do you trust Christ for answers to your health? Do you seek answers in prayer, but refuse to seek the Bible for the answers? Or do you trust the medical establishment without comparing their methods against God's Word? Take a while to ponder these questions.

The medical profession is not the only source of idols in the Christian's life. There are other distinguished men and women who write books, as well as many other humans who we place our faith in, rather than in our Creator.

It does not make a difference whether you choose the path of alternative preventative medicine or the path of the medical establishment, there are plenty of humans or false gods to whom you could put your trust rather than the true God.

Have You Gone to God?

Remember II Kings 1:16.

Is it because there is no God in America to inquire of His Word that we go to inquire of the gods of our nation? Do not put your trust in "clay pots." Put your trust in the Potter.

I Corinthians 3:19a: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.

We are not advocating total abstinence from the medical profession. We are only addressing the issue of authoritative answers to our health. There are many good doctors, and there are many good Christian doctors, but doctors are not all-knowing and all-powerful; they did not create your inward parts; they can never fully understand how the body functions; they are simply fallible humans with limited understanding. They are nothing like God and should not be listened to and obeyed with blind faith. Our first consultation must be to the God who sees, and the final decisions for our health must agree with His Word.

Go To: Authoritative Answers: Part Two: Seek Ye First God or the Physician?

Return To: Biblical Health Study