Monday, February 18, 2013

James 5:14



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.

Something that I have had to adjust to when I started teaching English overseas in South Korea was their view on being sick.  In the United States, it is common for kids and adults to get a cold.  When you do, typically there is a day or two when you have to take some time off.  However most people muscle through and just take some aspirin or something.  Even if you go to the doctor, you will still have a week or two of sniffling and coughing.

In South Korea though, it is quite different.  That first day your day feels funny and you start to lose your voice, you go to the doctor.  He gives you meds and generally you are feeling better within the hour.  If you don't go right away, the meds are not as effective.  Also, your co-workers will get on your case about seeking medical help quickly. 

So how sick do you have to be before calling the elders of the church for anointing and prayer?  It can be a matter of opinion or culture as to the answers you might get for this.  I see no reason why you can't go for a cold.  People with cancer have been cured.  People with injuries that would take months to heal have had recoveries that were mere weeks instead.  Yet things not so serious, but still enough to affect how you live your life, might be worth taking before the Lord too.  Why not?  God wants to help us.

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