Editorial May 27, 1985 Issue

Living for mankind

CAROLYN B. SWAN

Sooner or later, those who would live for mankind learn that deeply Christian prayer is the best friend of unselfish living. Actually, the quality of our prayers and the quality of our lives are reciprocal. Without practice to prove its sincerity, prayer may be little more than a promotion of human will. Without prayer to avail us of the direction of divine wisdom, our well-meaning efforts to help others may not contribute to the ongoing development of human welfare that we long to encourage.

The reciprocity of prayer and practice is summed up in the words of the Christian Apostle James, who wrote, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."^{ James 5:16.} And for an example of a righteous man, James pointed out the prophet Elijah, who helped a nation in a time of religious crisis.^{See James 5:17, 18 and I Kings, chap. 18.}

Many of Elijah's people, the ancient Israelites, had deserted Judaic monotheism for heathen idolatry. Consequently, for them the living waters of divine Love that reach mankind through true worship appeared to have dried up. Their infidelity had hardened their hearts and made their lives spiritually unproductive.

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