Names Don’t Define You!

1 Chronicles. 4:9-10-Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.”

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. (NKJV)

1 Chronicles 4:9-10-And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

(KJV)

God is influencing the write to write down this genealogy and God has him to stop and says something about Jabez (All the others it has just this begot that one, and that one begot this one) but these two verses tells us a lot about Jabez!

Now the question is with all the years you have lived…What is God got to say about you?

Because I bare him with sorrow or Because I bore him in pain.

Genesis 3:16-To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children;

This was the consequences of sin entering the world, I don’t believe she was talking about natural pains of child birth, maybe it was the circumstances of his birth…Maybe the father left before the baby was born, or maybe it was the financial strain of raising a child or a mothers bad intuition!

I’ve heard mother’s say about their child, “I knew they were going to trouble, ever since I was in labor with them for 36 hours!”

Can you imagine what it must have felt like to know your name meant…Sorrow or Pain?

The one who is suppose to be your biggest fan, biggest supporter, the one who is suppose to take up for you, is in fact putting you down!!

But I guarantee he is not the only one who have had or who have obstacles to overcome!

Maybe there have been people in your life, or maybe there are people in your life, that have put a stigma to your name or your families name!

Maybe you been branded a quitter, loser, dumb, stupid, lazy, and the list goes on!!

Maybe they have been vocal about what they think of you, or maybe they are a little more subtle but you get the meaning of their snide remarks!

His life was identified with sorrow and pain and yet his life produced honor…More Honourable Than His Brethren

He flip the script! He took what was suppose to be a curse and turned into a blessing!!

He didn’t let what someone called him, define who he was!!

He didn’t let a put down, keep him down!!

You may be here today and you have been held back by things that have been said about you in the past, hurtful words, mean words!

People that should be helping you, instead have hurt you!

Don’t let those negative things hinder you any longer!!

Remember I ask you…What is God got to say about you?

Can I give you just of few things He thinks about you!

Jeremiah 29:11-For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope

Matthew 11:28-29-Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Philippians 4:19-And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 8:37-39-Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.