Sometimes You Don’t Need a Prayer — You Just Need a Rope

There is an old story about a man who fell into a deep pit. He tried everything he knew to climb out, but the walls were too steep. He shouted for help, hoping somebody passing by would hear him.

Before long, a Christian Scientist came along, looked down into the pit and said, “You only think you’re in a pit.” And kept walking. A Pharisee came along, looked down and said, “Only bad people fall into pits. You must have done something to deserve this.” And kept walking. A fundamentalist came along and said, “Brother, you deserve to be in that pit.” And kept walking.

A charismatic came along and shouted, “You’re not in a pit! Don’t claim it! Speak your deliverance!” And kept walking. An optimist looked down and said, “Cheer up. Things could be worse.” A pessimist followed and said, “Oh, they’re going to get worse.” Then a Methodist came along and said, “We’ve organized a committee, and we’re going to bring you some food and clothing while you’re in the pit.” Finally, a Black Baptist walked up, looked down into the pit and shouted: “I’ve got a feeling everything’s gonna be alright!”

But the man in the pit finally had enough. He looked up and shouted: “FORGET ALL OF THAT! SOMEBODY GO GET A ROPE!”

And there is a word in that for the church. Sometimes people don’t need another sermon. Sometimes they don’t need another Bible verse quoted to them. Sometimes they don’t need another church cliché, another committee meeting, another conference or somebody telling them, “I’m praying for you.” Sometimes they need a rope.

Don’t misunderstand me. Prayer works. I believe in the power of prayer. Prayer has carried me through some things I could not have survived on my own. But sometimes the answer to somebody else’s prayer is YOU.

You can pray for the hungry, but eventually somebody has to bring some food. You can pray for the homeless, but eventually somebody has to help provide shelter. You can pray for the child who is struggling, but eventually somebody has to tutor that child. You can pray for the unemployed, but eventually somebody has to open a door. You can pray for the elderly, but eventually somebody has to make the visit. You can pray for the person trapped in the pit, but eventually somebody has to GO GET THE ROPE!

Faith was never intended to become an excuse for inactivity. James reminds us that faith without works is dead. In other words, stop telling everybody how much faith you have and show somebody what your faith can DO. Jesus did not simply preach to hungry people. He fed them. He did not merely talk about compassion. He touched people others refused to touch. He did not build His ministry around titles, positions and recognition. He built it around service.

And maybe that is where the church needs to take a serious look at itself. We have become very good at having church. We know when to stand. We know when to shout. We know when to sing. We know when to say amen. We know how to elect chairpersons, secretaries, presidents, trustees, deacons, ministry leaders and committee heads. But the question is not how many people you lead on Sunday. The question is: How many people do you help on Monday?

God is not impressed because your name appears on the church program. He is concerned about whether your name appears in somebody’s testimony. “I was hungry, and she fed me.” “I was about to give up, and he encouraged me.” “My lights were about to be turned off, and somebody helped me.” “My child needed a mentor, and somebody showed up.” “I was sitting in a hospital room by myself, and somebody came.” “I was in a pit, and somebody threw me a rope.” That is ministry.

There are people all around us sitting in pits. Some are in pits of poverty. Some are in pits of addiction. Some are in pits of loneliness. Some are in pits of grief. Some are in pits of unemployment. Some are young people who simply need somebody to believe in them. And while we are debating doctrine, denominations, positions and titles, they are still shouting: “CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE GET ME A ROPE?”

Church, it is time to roll up our sleeves. Get out from behind the title. Get out from behind the position. Get out from behind the pulpit. Get out from behind the committee table. And go where hurting people are. Pray for them, absolutely. But after you say Amen, open your eyes and look around. Because God just might say: “Now that you’ve finished praying, pick up the rope.”

Sometimes the greatest sermon you will ever preach will never come from your mouth. It will come from your hands. Your presence. Your compassion. Your willingness to reach down into somebody else’s pit and help pull them out. So, the next time you see somebody struggling, don't just tell them you’re praying for them. Ask yourself: Where is my rope? Because sometimes you don’t need another prayer. Sometimes you just need somebody willing to grab the rope and pull.