What is the meaning of importunity?

Answer

Importunity is urgent persistence. An importunate person is one who persists in asking for something to the point of being troublesome. Jesus once posed a scenario: suppose a man goes to a friend’s house at night and asks for some loaves of bread to feed an unexpected guest. The friend refuses, saying his family is already asleep and he doesn’t want to wake them. But the man doesn’t give up; he keeps knocking on the door. Finally, Jesus says, “Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth” «I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. », (Luke 11:8, KJV). This was Jesus’ way of illustrating the need for persistent— even importunate— prayer, prayer that could qualify as blatant begging or, as the NIV has it, shows “shameless audacity.”

Although the word importunity is not used in Luke 18:1–8, the principle of persistent prayer is taught there as well. It was because of the widow’s shameless begging that the wicked judge finally relented and gave her justice. The widow refused to take “no” for an answer and kept badgering the judge beyond the place where most people would stop. Jesus’ advocacy of importunity challenges our understanding of prayer. It would seem to us that importunity in prayer is not necessary, since God has already heard our prayers (Psalm 34:17; Psalm 69:33; 1 John 5:14). Yet Jesus says that the Father wants our prayers to be persistent. Importunity reveals sincerity and heartfelt desire.

The Bible also speaks of importunity in Proverbs 6:3. In the context of a persOn attempting to free oneself from a rash vow or foolish obligation, Scripture says, “Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; / Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, / Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor” (NASB). Other Bible translations suggest we should “plead urgently,” “press your plea,” and “beg” to release ourselves from foolish vows.

Importunity may hold value to the Lord due to the humility needed to possess that trait. When we pray with importunity, we have relinquished any notion that we can aid ourselves. Similar to the widow in Jesus’ parable, we cast ourselves upon the mercy of God, the true Judge, and plead from a place of desperation. Importunity mirrors the kind of pleading a mother would engage in with a kidnapper who is endangering her child. She will implore fervently and unashamedly—whatever it takes to liberate her child. She has forsaken any efforts to rescue him independently. The situation surpasses her capabilities, but surrendering is not a choice. Thus, she implores with importunity.

When we pray in that manner, we exhibit the type of faith that can move mountains «For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. », (Mark 11:23). Jesus praised the importunity of a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:22–28. The woman declined to accept Jesus’ initial, somewhat off-putting response. In a sense, she “wrestled with the Lord” until He granted her request (see Genesis 32:24-28). God esteems this form of wrestling with Him because it is grounded in faith—and Jesus commends the woman’s exceptional faith in verse 28. If we lack belief that He is able or willing to fulfill our petitions, we abandon them and walk away. Faith provokes importunity.

Proper importunate prayers are those that are just, honorable, and within God’s plan for us. When we pray with importunity, in His will, He promises to hear and answer (1 John 5:14-16; John 16:23-24). God created us for a relationship and fellowship with Him. Importunate prayers require that we stay at His feet, pleading our case and basking in His presence. Praying with importunity keeps our focus on God and not on our ability to resolve the situation. When we seek Him with all our hearts, He promises that we will find Him “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”, (Jeremiah 29:13).