1 Chronicles 3-5
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV)
One of the best things to study in the Bible is prayers that have been answered. Prayer is such a powerful thing. It is focusing the almighty power of God on a specific need. The key to effective prayer is praying according to the will of God and believing that we have what we’ve asked for. It is also important to be persistent until the answer comes.
The prayer of Jabez is an oasis in a desert of names we do not know. It glistens like a rare jewel against a background of otherwise dry reading. In today’s podcast we examine this prayer. I won’t say all the same things here that I say in the podcast. (I still want you to listen.) But I will point out the significance of God answering this prayer.
At first glance it seems selfish. “Oh, that you would bless me indeed.” I don’t know about you, but it is easier for me to pray that God would bless others than to ask Him to bless me. Maybe it is because I feel He has already blessed me so much. There are so many others in the world who have greater needs than me. Why would I ask God to bless me even more? But this line of thinking misses an important point about God. His blessings do not come on the basis of merit; nor do they come in equal measure to all. In Christ’s parable of the talents the master gives one servant five talents, another two talents, and another one talent. This shows that God gives blessings by grace and according to one’s faithfulness in effectively using what he receives. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you.”
Jabez prayed that he would be blessed and that his territory would be enlarged. This wasn’t so that he could boast that he had more than his neighbor but to have a greater influence for the kingdom of God. Anytime we can enlarge our borders to reach more people for Christ, then we are making a bigger heaven and a smaller hell. Why wouldn’t God answer that prayer?
Jabez also realized that he needed God’s help, so he prayed that God’s hand would be with him. He understood what Jesus later told His disciples: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Finally, Jabez prayed that God would keep him from evil so that he would not cause pain. All sin inflicts pain on God, others and us. Therefore, Jesus taught us to pray that God would keep us from temptation and evil. No wonder God granted Jabez what he requested!
Recently we remodeled our home. Last night we had our family over to celebrate two birthdays. As I saw everyone laughing and four grandsons scurrying through every room in the house and having a great time, I quietly said a prayer of thanksgiving. “Thank you Father, for all that you’ve given us that we can joyfully share with others.” And you know what? I think God is pleased to give it.