Talk is Cheap

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

Many believers are great at talking and debating about what they believe. They know how to defend their pet doctrines, what Scriptures they stand on, and they easily quote their favorite preachers. The problem is, not all those people actually do anything with what they know. Talk is cheap if there is no action involved.

When the Bible says believers are to pray for all men, it doesn’t mean to understand the theological power and importance of prayer. It isn’t saying that you should debate about how deserving of prayer or undeserving someone is. And while it’s good to memorize Scriptures regarding prayer, that alone is not enough. When the Bible says that believers are to pray, they need to be praying!

You put your heart into interceding and supplicating for others. When the Bible says to pray for those in authority, it does not mean for the authority that you like. It doesn’t even mean that must agree with their decisions and actions. It means that you need to pray simply because the Bible says to.

I once had a guest speaker who announced that God told him to pray for an individual in government. Some people stood up but refused to pray. I even received letters from people who were angry that I let the speaker pray for that person. But prayer is a biblical mandate, not an option based on our political disposition. If we are really doers of the Word, we will pray for all men, whether or not we like them!

I pray for the leaders of all political parties in the United States. I don’t agree with them all, but I pray for them all. I even pray for the heads of governments in the world that are cruel and inhumane. God said to pray for all, and I am a doer of the Word!

Practical Application

Pray for your governmental leaders today. Even if you do not agree with them, pray for wisdom, protection and that God surrounds them with believers who hear from the Holy Ghost.

1 Timothy 2:4; Romans 5:10