Wealth Beyond Compare

#1794

Prayer is the great balm of human woes! Go from house to house through a country village, or through a single street in a large town--and what a sad catalogue of sorrows you may reckon up! 

In one, there is a dying parent--or a child fast sinking into the grave. 

In another, there is dire and distressing poverty. 

In a third, perhaps, there is a heart bleeding through some bitter disappointment, or the unfeeling conduct of a beloved one. 

In a fourth, there is some secret sorrow which may not be told.

In every case, through prayer, relief may be found. By it the sorrowful, afflicted one comes near to a most pitiful Father, and His loving care becomes a sure rest to the weary spirit.

The excellencies of prayer may be summed up in the words of John Chrysostom:
"Prayer, in a spiritual sense, is . . .
  a haven to the shipwrecked man,
  an anchor to those who are sinking in the waves,
  a staff to the limbs that totter,
  a mine of jewels to the poor,
  a healer of diseases, and a guardian of health.
Prayer at once secures the continuance of our blessings, and dissipates the cloud of our calamities. O blessed prayer! You are . . .
  the unwearied conqueror of human woes,
  the firm foundation of human happiness,
  the source of ever-enduring joy,
  the mother of all comfort. 
The man who can pray truly, though languishing in extreme indigence, is richer than all beside. While the wretch who never bowed the knee, though proudly seated as monarch of all nations, is of all men, most destitute!"

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need!" Hebrews 4:16

This writer does not know how many times he has used the Hebrews scripture "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  I used it so many times because I am convinced that the saved as well as the unsaved has no idea of the wealth involved in being able to ask the Creator of the Universe for help.  The greatest prayer in the world, "help me", for those who are so self sufficient, so think they have the world in control through their wealth , their education, their power or influence, their time will come. 

I have talked about it many times how this poor country boy worked his way through 8 years of university education, my last years in Memphis, I worked at night and on weekends, selling pre-need cemetery property at one of the Nation's largest cemeteries, the one where  Elvis was buried before being moved to Graceland. 

I still remember the Sunday when as a representative of the cemetery I was present at services for two babies.  On one side of the cemetery, where the poor people were buried a pick up truck came up carrying a small cheap casket in the rear of the truck.  In another pick up truck a grieving young couple got out to bury their baby.  Later, at the cemeteries mausoleum (where Elvis was first entered right after his funeral) a fleet of stretch limousines came up, one containing a small gold casket with a baby.  This baby, from a very wealthy family was entered in the mausoleum such as life, the haves and the have not's; the right and the poor.  Science can change the habitats/circumstances of people BUT only God knows the love and grief of each mother; weather poor or rich.  Just as was the case as the first Passover, God did not ask any questions, there only had to be blood over the door.   God has been silent on many things but this one thing we can know, God hears the prayer of "the beloved", the needy. 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)