Prayer Can Be Selfish

On one occasion the Master illustrated that prayer can be selfish. He told a story: “It is said that once a Muslim, a Christian and a Jew were rowing in a boat. Suddenly a tempest arose and the boat was tossed on the crest of the waves and their lives were in danger. The Muslim began to pray: ‘O God! Drown this infidel of a Christian!’ The Christian supplicated the Almighty: ‘O Father!

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Send to the bottom of the deep this Muslim!’ They observed the Jew was not offering any prayer, and therefore asked him: ‘Why do you not pray for relief?’ He answered, ‘I am praying. I am asking the Lord to answer the prayers of both of you!’”

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