King James Bible
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
World English Bible
Don't put your trust in princes, each a son of man in whom there is no help.
Young's Literal Translation
Trust not in princes -- in a son of man, For he hath no deliverance.
Psalm 146:3
Greetings,
In order to attempt to answer your question
@Fragrant Grace which may I say is a valid question in this day, I would like to draw attention to the Scripture provided above.
@Br. Bear it is an interesting to consider the verse "call upon the elders" In New Testament days there were guidelines as to who could be elders. In these wishy washy church days it seems that in many churches "anything goes". There may not even be any elders....there seem to be deacons, deaconess's, pastors.....so what happens then?
If we add to these some portions of proverbs:
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. Proverbs 21:2
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. Proverbs 30:12
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.Proverbs 16:2
and in order to the seriousness here
TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Daniel 5:27
"Our part is to think and decide depending on how we weigh up others".... is that correct? (this is not a personal question to you Fragrant Grace but is pertinent due to the many discussions being had around the forums and those, including yourself and myself who have ears will hear, if it be the Lord's will that what I am writing be of any benefit for the building up of the Body.)
You may be, by now, getting the picture?
What is our part from 'hypothetically' being one who desires that healing and considers what James said to do in such circumstances.
For clarification of what my post you raised the question from was pointing to, may I add here that James was speaking to Christians, not those who were yet 'unsaved'; those not yet members of the Body of Christ in the Church. In this may be a key to help unlock some of the confusion that abounds regarding healing for Christians?
Over and again, our part is obedience, not taking matters into our own hands and reasoning but to do as we are told, as little children would who know the Father's love. It is in trusting Him, and not either our own decisions based on what we think about people or not etc AND not in the people we may call on.
We tend to look for excuses and loopholes until we are brought to our place of complete need, when at last we let go of all else and call upon the Lord, having realised all our own ways are dead.... bringing no life nor healing.
Why do we do this? Perhaps pride; perhaps fear and uncertainty; perhaps embarrassment; perhaps insecurity and perhaps even not trusting the Lord above all else and deciding that obedience is better than.... all else.
Scripture is full of examples of this and the real consequences of disobedience which today we tend to sugar coat and present our rebellion to God, which is a crime equatable to the worst crimes imaginable against men women and children, and make out that we are not being at all dis obedient... it's just that..... Just nothing, for their is only One Who is just and from Him Justice comes. He will not be mocked when He does come with all His angels with Him. He will be more fearful to those who rebel than they care to begin imagining, because they prefer imagining their own pet thoughts and ideas about how they can and should run the show, until they come to grief and then maybe, then, they might crumple under their own needs to see that obedience really is better.
So, who do we call? The elders of the Church. That pushes us to the maximum if we refuse to acknowledge any such church or elder-ship in the church.
However, most know of at least one church they could approach in their area.
The point here, though is not to try to out decide God but to obey. Let Him take care of the elders or church and let us, in obedience,. trust Him. Our healing will not come from men but God, therefore, will He ignore obedience or will He heal because you have followed Him in obedience?
Our part is to do as He says, not what man says nor what we say. As we seek healing from Him, does it not fit that we ought to do as He says?
It is the elders part to obey, also. We can not force them but something very beautiful can blossom before fruit and the best part of the fruit is love. I see how by one being obedient and calling the elders, and the elders being obedient and doing their part (as per Scripture), the two can rejoice in the goodness of God and His faithfulness, and in that and through that a bond, His bond of love between members of His Body is made manifest, and ought to remain between the once sick and the elders. They have done what is right in obedience and the one who was sick did their part in obedience.
Added to this, the elders also would be encouraged and who in the Body would not like encouragement? In this, we can see that it all can work for good.
How precious....
{A Song of degrees of David} Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm 133
Bless you ....><>
[please excuse me if this post appears somewhat fragmented. It has been composed with intervals as I have other commitments that need to be fulfilled]
