FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

I Chronicles 4:9, 10; Philippians 4:19; [Genesis 2:11, 12; Psalm 50:10; Haggai 2:8]; Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 6:9-13, 24-34; Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 35:27; 34:8-10; 37:23-25; 84:11; Proverbs 30:7, -9; 15:15-17; 22:1

Every day is a great day to prosper with the Lord. Most people today have at least heard of Jabez. His prayer is recorded in I Chronicles 4:9 and 10. We know God supplies all our need, but we must not misconstrue “need” to mean “greed.” There is a difference between a need and a want. God always answers our prayers with either “yes,” “no” or “not yet.”

In the original Paradise there was gold. Our God and Father owns cattle upon a thousand hills. The gold and silver are His and it is His prerogative as to whom He gives it. Logically, He would want to give it to His people, specifically those who will use it wisely.

God has throughout time blessed His people with prosperity. But the blessings are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end. God is not a distant God but a Father Who will take care of His children. His storehouse in heaven is endless. In Matthew 6, we are reminded of how God takes care of the birds and flowers and that we do not need to be anxious about Him taking care of us, His children. Psalm 35:27 reminds us that God has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.

Jabez is a man whose name is tucked away amid over 500 names in the scriptures. He is abruptly introduced and just as quickly dismissed, never again to be mentioned in the Scriptures. There are 72 words about this man in the King James version of the Bible. Before the prayer is brought up, Jabez is spoken of as being more honorable than his brethren, not because of his prayer, but because of his heart. Jabez called upon the God of Israel, Elohim, meaning the Creator, the source of all supply. His prayer was personal and bold. He asked God to bless him indeed and enlarge his coast. “Coast” means boundary or border and denoted his responsibility and influence. This meant Jabez would have greater responsibility with land, cattle and servants so he could glean and guide his affairs in the ways of God. Jabez was not covetous, but honorable.

Jabez asked for God’s hand to be with him. The blessings without acknowledging the Blesser tend to dull the sense of dependence upon God. Jabez wanted to be in spiritual partnership with God. He also asked God to help him stand and resist the temptations of evil. He did not ask God to keep evil from him but to keep him from evil. The scriptures say that God granted Jabez’ prayer.

We need people today who, like Jabez, do not want material abundance so they can sit back and be lazy. Material abundance is a means to an end. The end is that God’s work can be done. Jabez’ prayer is a powerful one. We, too, can pray this way as we seek to serve God. God will give us whatever we need to do the things He has called us to do.