The 2 survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree they have no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayers were more powerful, they agreed to divide the island between them and stay on opposite sides.
The first man prayed for food. The next morning he saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the island.
The other man's land remained barren.
After a week the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day another ship wrecked and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island.
On the other side of the island there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothing, and more food. The next day all of these were given to him.
However the second man still had nothing.
Finally the first man prayed for a ship so he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning he saw a ship docked at his side of the island. He boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was preparing to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone. I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered, and so he does not deserve anything."
"You are mistaken," the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."
"Tell me," the first man asked, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"
"He prayed that all your prayers be answered..."
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruit of our prayers alone... But those of another praying for us.
When Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of you!
Are you one of the 7% who will pray for others before yourself?
photo credit: nakwoodford
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