The Prophetic Community Or The Party Line?

When the prophet's widow needed assistance, she went to a prophet. Her salutation, "your servant my husband", suggests that Elisha was a higher-ranking prophet than her spouse was.

Who do you go to when you need assistance? As Christians, we often give lip-service to the idea of seeking God first, last, and always... but can someone tell me what really happens? For some, it's less 'prophet' and more 'party-line'.

There is a behavioral norm in the prophetic community: when crisis hits, when questions arise, seek the face of God. And, if He chooses, God will send people to be part of the process of solving the crisis, or riding through the crisis, or getting our questions answered, or getting strength to live in the uncertainty. God changes our circumstance, or our character, or our outlook on the situation we face.

There is also a behavioral norm in the 'party-line' community: when crisis hits or when questions arise, persons in the 'party-line' community run to their friends. They talk about their problems, and their friends talk to other friends about their problems. Sometimes suggestions are made and advice is given. However, at the end of the day, not one soul has uttered a prayer to the Creator and Sustainer of our souls... and the crisis remains as is. No change in circumstances, no change in character, no change in outlook.

So, the next time you face a crisis, skip the neighbors and bypass the curious. Go directly to God! He will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go (see Psalm 32:8).