First Baptist Church
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
May 26, 2002
Prayer of Jabez
Wilma Rudolph was born the 16th of 18 children in a poor black family in middle Tennessee. She weighed just over 4 pounds. At the age of 4 she contracted polio and lost the use of her left leg. The battle with polio left her weakened and she developed chronic pneumonia and scarlet fever. She managed to survive, but spent most of her childhood as a cripple. It was only through years of therapy, and determination that Wilma was able to regain the use of her left leg. She played high school basketball setting a single season record averaging over 30 points a game. In 1960, Wilma represented the United States in the Olympics. She won gold medals in all three of the events in which she competed. She tied the world record in the 100-meters, set a new Olympic record in the 200 and in the 400-meter relay she brought her team from behind to win the gold. At the very least, we can say that Wilma Rudolph rose above her circumstances.
We find that sort of character in an often forgotten man named Jabez. For the next few weeks we will talk about this obscure character who has had a book written about his 1 sentence prayer and what that prayer means in our lives. Last week I spoke about the Holy Spirit and how we can attempt to activate Him more in our lives. Well, I believe that using this prayer from Jabez is one very real way to rekindle the Spirit.
The prayer of Jabez was an unexpected best seller. Considering it is a Christian book, it has been on the New York Times and USA Today’s Best Sellers List. That makes an important statement about what many people in this country are seeking.
There are many, many prayers in the Bible, some are rather lengthy, and others are remarkably brief. When I was first introduced to the book, I was a little skeptical. How is a 1 sentence prayer supposed to revolutionize my life. But, I thought I’d give the book a chance. As I read Bruce Wilkinson’s book, I realized that what he was saying was right on. I liked what he was saying and I didn’t take him in a negative way.
Many people have blasted this book as just another way to cash in on the health and wealth gospel. After all, Jabez prays for blessings and for his territory to be expanded. In fact, the Interpreter’s Bible states, "Jabez’s prayer is crude and selfish. His conscience was not troubled by the thought that others would suffer if he gained his wishes."* Jabez may have been praying for personal things, yet, there was something more in that prayer which led God to answer yes, and for God to want this prayer placed in the Bible.
When I read the book I never believed this was what Wilkinson was writing about. I must admit that Wilkinson does believe we can get blessed and have our territories expanded by using this prayer, but not in the same way that his critics believe.
Today, I want to look at who Jabez is and get into this first portion of his prayer. For the next two weeks, we will talk more about Jabez and then wrap things up. Also, remember that there are prayer cards with the Prayer of Jabez as recorded in the NIV. Take them with you and begin to pray that prayer everyday and I truly believe you will see things happening in your life.
The prayer of Jabez is a daily reminder and invitation to allow God to work in us and through us. It is not some magic formula to get God to act on our behalf. All we are doing is using a specific prayer which serves to call our attention to what God is doing in our life and to His power which is available for all who call upon it. The purpose is not for our benefit, the ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God.
As we get into this prayer, I want you to know that there is a key to making it work for you. The key is trusting and believing in God, believing He is able to do more than you could ever ask. I was reminded of that this week as I read Ephesians 3:20-21. Paul wrote, "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" You see what Paul is saying? God can do more than we ask and imagine. Of course, we don’t understand why He doesn’t obey all of our desires, but we must rest in the promise that God is far more powerful and capable than we ever imagined. When we begin to believe that, the power of the Holy Spirit can be unleashed and we experience greater freedom to serve and worship God.
Okay, let’s look at this guy named Jabez. It would be pretty easy to miss his prayer and story. In the first 8 verses of 1 Chronicles 4, 44 names are listed, then suddenly up pops Jabez’s name and his prayer. Most people would likely skip the first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles, as over 500 names are listed, comprising the 12 tribes of Israel. Jabez had a pretty inauspicious beginning. There was nothing beautiful about the birth of Jabez.
When we’re selecting the names of our children, we try to choose names that fit their character or names that have special meaning. But Jabez’s mother must have experienced a great deal of pain in childbirth, that she gave him the name Jabez. This literally means "Because I bore him in pain." What a name to have. In the Old Testament, names had significant meaning. The babies name may even represent who they would become in life. By giving Jabez his name, his mother was identifying him as a loser. With such a name, his life should not have been a success. Jabez had been identified as someone who would be unsuccessful. Jabez was identified as a . . . pain.
Now think about it, what was his mother thinking? Didn’t she have one of those "baby name" books? I mean if women named their children after the birth experience, we should have a lot of Jabez’s running around here. For example, Solomon means "peace." He was the first king of Israel to reign without going to war. Jabez on the other hand, was a child of pain and sorrow. He was a pain, even before his first breath, he was marked as a "loser." Imagine being a 5 year old, playing in the fields when your mother cries out: "You who causes me pain, you source of grief, you loser, it’s time for dinner!" The children around him mimic the mother, "Hey, Loser! Momma’s calling."
We also learn that Jabez was considered more honorable than all of his brothers. Something must have hit home for Jabez, we don’t know what it is, but the author of 1 Chronicles wants us to know that compared to his brothers, Jabez had more character and was more responsible. Jabez went from being a pain to being the most honorable in his family.
It is frequently said,"nothing can change the past." And while the past cannot be changed, how we react to the past can change and the Bible reminds us that when we call on God and trust in Him, we now have the power and ability to no longer be enslaved by the past, but we can become a new creation. So, what made the difference for Jabez? I believe it was his prayer life.
The first section of this one line prayer was simply, "Lord, bless me indeed!"
To ask for a blessing in the biblical sense means "to ask for or to impart supernatural or divine favor." When we ask for God’s blessing, we’re not asking for more of what we could get for ourselves. We’re crying out for the wonderful, unlimited goodness that only God has the power to know about and to give to us.
Usually, when we ask for the Lord’s blessing we express exactly how we want God to bless us. It’s almost as if we’ll only consider the prayer answered and the blessing acceptable, if we get exactly what we asked for, in the manner and time we asked for it.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being specific in our prayers. When we pray for others, when we seek God’s forgiveness, we should be intentional, detailed, and even strategic, in our prayers.
But look at the way Jabez asked for his blessing. "Oh that You would bless me indeed." Bruce Wilkinson notes, the "radical aspect of Jabez’s prayer for blessing is that he left it entirely up to God to decide what the blessings would be and how Jabez would receive them" (p. 24). His point is that we don’t need to request God to give us what we want, when we want it. Instead, we’re called to open ourselves to God’s blessings whenever, wherever, whatever, and however, God chooses. If we pray the Jabez prayer, we’re asking God to send His blessings into our lives.
You see, when it comes to prayer, in fact, when it comes to anything related to God, we can’t possibly ask beyond God’s ability to provide. Generally, I believe we fall woefully short of receiving God’s blessings because we simply aren’t expecting them. Maybe we have that feeling like Jabez that we’re a pain. You may think that is your nickname, but God has a different name for you, He knows your name, because you are His precious child, and He wants to bless you. I don’t think we often comprehend all that God has in store for us.
So often when we pray for blessings from God we bring little more before Him than a laundry list of things we want. We make bold plans for the future believing that our plans are just the way God is going to bring about His blessing for us when, in reality, we have absolutely no idea what God intends to do for us and through us.
I wonder if God ever hears our prayers for blessing, shakes His head, and thinks, "Is that all you expect Me to do?" Jabez’s prayer for blessing is so simple it’s profound. As you seek the blessing of God in your life, ask Him to do just that—bless you, bless you according to His will.
Wilkinson tells a fable about Mr. Jones who dies and goes to heaven. Peter offers to give him a tour. Mr. Jones sees the splendor of the golden streets, beautiful mansions and angelic choirs. As the tour continues, he notices an odd-looking building, which is curiously out of place in all the beauty. It’s an enormous warehouse, with no windows and only one door.
Mr. Jones tells Peter he wants to look inside, but Peter hesitates, saying, "You really don’t want to see what’s in there."
The tour goes on, but Mr. Jones’ mind keeps wandering back to that warehouse. He thinks there has to be some huge surprise in that building for him. After the tour ends, he keeps bugging Peter. So, Peter takes him back to the warehouse.
Upon entering the building, Mr. Jones almost knocks Peter over in his haste to find out what’s inside. Once inside, Mr. Jones notices the building is filled with row after row of shelves, floor to ceiling, each neatly stacked with white boxes tied in red ribbons.
He also notices that each box has a name on it, so he turns to Peter and asks, "Do I have a box with my name on it?"
Peter replies, "Yes, you do, and tries to warn Mr. Jones of what he will find, but he doesn’t hear Peter and he’s already running toward the "J" aisle to find his box. He frantically searches until he finds his own box. He unwraps the ribbon and takes the top off. After looking inside the box, Mr. Jones has a moment of instant recognition, and then he lets out a deep sigh. It’s like the sighs Peter has heard so many times before. There in Mr. Jones’ white box are all the blessings God wanted to give him while he lived on earth but Mr. Jones had never asked for.
In Matthew 7:7, Jesus says "ask and it will be given" and James 4:2 says "we do not receive, because we do not ask."
Is it right to ask God for blessings? Friends, if you want the blessing of God, you need to ask. He wants to bless you. Ask Him to do it. With the right attitude, and with the idea that you will bless others with the blessings God has given you.
And just watch Him work.
As we sing our final hymn, pray that God would bless you beyond measure. Not so you can be selfish, but so that your relationship with Him can be enhanced, and that you might be a blessing to others.
+++++
*W. A. L. Elmslie, The Interpreter’s Bible: Volume 3, Copyright 1982, Abingdon Press, p. 359.
