Do You Nag God?

If you have your Bibles this morning, please take them and find Luke 18:1.  I want to share a message with you that has a question for its title, “Do You Nag God?”

 

Generally speaking, when we think of “nagging,” we don’t think positively.  As a matter of fact, we probably had some husbands answering in their minds a moment ago about their wife.

 

In the book of Proverbs, this idea is seen multiple times with the word, “contentious.”  BTW…Let me encourage you in the new year to read through the book Proverbs each month by reading the chapter that corresponds with the date.

 

Proverbs 21:9 9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

 

Proverbs 21:19 19 Better to dwell in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

 

Proverbs 25:24 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

 

Proverbs 26:21 21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

 

Proverbs 27:15 15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike;

 

However, in today’s text, we are going to see a parable from the Lord Jesus in which His encourage for us is to nag God.  We do this in a positive way with our persistent prayers.

 

Depending on your translation of the Bible, this parable goes by multiple names.  It has been titled a parable on prayer. It has been entitled the Parable of the Persistent Widow, and it has been entitled the Parable of the Unjust or Unrighteous Judge.

 

Don’t forget what is a parable.  It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning or a spiritual meaning. 

 

In verse 1, we see that Jesus spoke this parable to them.  There doesn’t seem to be a reason that we should change contexts.  Therefore, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples.

 

Remember, this is not a special class of Christians.  These are Jesus’ followers.  If you are a Christian, you are a disciple of Jesus.

 

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to wonder or guess what this parable means.  Jesus told us in verse 1.  We ought to pray and not lose heart.

 

We are to pray and keep in praying and be persistent in praying.  Consequently, don’t become discouraged.  Don’t faint or tire.  Don’t give up.

 

 

1. The Unjust Judge

The first character we are introduced to in this parable is a judge in a certain city in verse 2.  We also see something about his character.

 

He did not fear God, and he didn’t regard man.  In other words, he didn’t respect people.

 

Look what Jesus called him in verse 6.  He is called an unjust judge or an unrighteous judge.  That is where some get the title for this parable.

 

 

2. The Persistent Widow

The second character is a widow in the same city.  She is introduced in verse 3. 

 

BTW…In this day and age, widows were considered outcasts.  They didn’t have anyone to care for them.  That is why Luke highlights them regularly in his gospel demonstrating the gospel is for everyone.

 

The reason this widow came to the judge is because he was only one who could defend her or fight for her.  Therefore, she came to him and requested that he get justice for her from her adversary. 

 

Your bible may say opponent or enemy.  Even though we don’t know the specifics, someone had taken advantage of her.

 

However, she didn’t just come to the judge with this request once.  She can EVERY single time he held court.  She came again and again and again.

 

The judge thought she would give up.  He thought he could wait her out.  However, he couldn’t.

 

Finally, he decided to give in.  Even though he didn’t fear God and didn’t care what others thought of him, he got tired of her nagging him.

 

Verse 5 says he didn’t want her to trouble him and make him weary.  She was wearing him out by her continual coming. 

 

 

Conclusion

Verses 6-7 contain the point or conclusion of this parable.  Again, we don’t have to wonder or guess because Jesus told us.

 

It is somewhat odd, but we learn a good lesson from a bad example.  If the unjust judge acts this way, how much more will God our heavenly father do.

 

Therefore, yes, the unjust judge is God the Father.  However, this is a great time to remind you not to press the parable too much.

 

For example, first, is God an unjust or unrighteous judge?  No, He is not.

 

Second, do my prayers bother God or make Him tired? No, they do not.

 

Third, does God care about us unlike the unjust judge?  Yes, He not only cares for you, but He loves you.

 

If the unjust judge answered the plea, how much more will God answer ours?  Notice in verse 7, we are called the elect.

 

Don’t forget that reality in 2026.  Long before you chose God, God chose you! 

 

As His elect, we ought to be crying out to Him night and day with our prayers, and yes, He will answer.  Therefore, keep doing good.  See Galatians 6:9.

 

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

 

Also, don’t forget that God’s timing is not our timing.  See 2 Peter 3:8-9.

 

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

Finally, look at the end of verse 7.  Will Jesus find us faithful in our persistent praying when He returns?

 

Think about this.  What if God is ready to answer your prayers with one more prayer from you?

 

What if God will save that family member or friend with one more prayer?  What if God will save that marriage with one more prayer?  What if God will reconcile that relationship with one more prayer?  What if God will take away that cancer with more prayer?  What if God will provide that money with one more prayer?

 

Will we be faithful in persistent praying?  God wants you to nag Him in 2026!