The Sin of Prayerlessness - by Jim Tharp

James 4:17, NKJV 

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 

There is probably no easier sin to commit than that of prayerlessness. We all need to realize that we can sin not only by doing what is wrong, but we can commit sin by not doing what is right—and certainly when it is something that God’s Word commands us to do. The prayerless man or woman who claims to be a Christian is disobeying our God of love, showing disrespect for the Word of God, and grieving the Holy Spirit who is available to help us and empower us for prayer.

 

Prayerlessness is a sin of neglect. Jesus taught His disciples to pray. They were absolutely amazed at His praying! They soon caught His secret—Jesus’ relationship with the Holy Spirit. He realized the need of getting His disciples prepared for receiving the power of the Holy Spirit after His return to heaven. As His apostles who would be called to spread His gospel to the world, they must learn to pray. Therefore, Jesus took the time to make sure they knew how to pray and how to receive the Holy Spirit. Because they were already believers in Jesus Christ, they could learn to pray. But they would realize the difference in their praying when they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Since Jesus has ordered His followers to pray, we have no option. We either obey Him or we soon lose our relationship with Him. But if we do lose out, we can confess our sin of prayerlessness and be forgiven and renewed—hopefully to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The great American evangelist Charles G. Finney used to pray what we might all learn to pray: “O God, send the Holy Spirit to give us fire and freedom.”