Good morning, my brothers! Why did God interrupt an entire genealogy to tell us about one ordinary man? The answer is both encouraging and deeply challenging for every Christian man. Have you met Jabez yet?. Let’s go! 4-minute, 48-second read.
Listen to the audio version here:
Early in my walk with Christ, I picked up a little book called The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson.
It wasn't a long book. In fact, I first read it in a single sitting. But it was one of the first books that showed me how the Word of God could come alive. How just two verses buried deep in the Old Testament could challenge a man to look at his life from a different perspective.
I've gone back to that little book several times over the years. Each time I'm reminded that some of God's greatest truths are tucked away in the places we're most tempted to skip.
That's exactly where we find Jabez. Buried in the middle of a genealogy filled with names most of us can't pronounce is one man God refuses to let us overlook.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
God calls out this man in a long genealogy to continue showing us what a man after His heart looks like. What was it about Jabez that the Lord wanted you and I to know, and model?
He Was An Honorable Man
The first thing God tells us has nothing to do with Jabez's prayer. It has everything to do with his character.
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers."
Scripture doesn't explain exactly what made him honorable, but it does show us what honorable men look like. Throughout the Bible, honor isn't measured by wealth, influence, or achievement.
It's measured by a heart that trusts God, walks in obedience, and desires His glory above its own. That's completely opposite from the world we live in.
Our culture celebrates famous men. God looks for faithful men.
We admire influence. God develops integrity.
We chase success. God shapes character.
Before God enlarges a man's territory, He changes the man.
I wonder how often we ask God to increase our influence, give us more, before asking Him to make us more…more like Jesus?
He Refused to Be Defined by His Past
Then we're told something remarkable. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had brought her pain.
Imagine carrying that name your entire life. Every introduction, every conversation, every time someone spoke your name reminded you of your past, your labels.
Many men are still living that way. Maybe no one calls you "Pain," but you've answered to other names for years.
Failure.
Too far gone.
Addict.
Not enough.
God doesn't remember Jabez as "the man named Pain." He remembers him as "the honorable man." That's what grace does. It rewrites the story the world says you'll never escape.
The enemy loves to convince us that yesterday is our identity. He is a liar.
God sees us as His masterpiece. Worth dying for. That’s truly who you are.
He Prayed Bigger Than Himself
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory."
I'm not sure we as men pray boldly enough. We pray too safely.
We ask God to make life easier. Jabez asked God to make his life matter. He wasn't asking for a bigger kingdom. He was asking for a greater opportunity to advance God's Kingdom. That's a dangerous prayer.
"Lord, enlarge my influence so one more man comes to know You."
"Lord, enlarge my courage to speak when You've opened the door."
"Lord, enlarge my desire to mentor my kids, grandchildren, and other men You’ve put in my life."
I wonder what God might do if thousands of Christian men started praying prayers like that every morning.
He Wanted God's Presence More Than God's Blessing
Jabez didn't stop after asking for greater influence. He immediately prayed: "Let Your hand be with me."
Jabez understood something many guys never learn. Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing of lasting impact (John 15:5). He is the Giver of every good gift. All success and impact come from Him.
Expanded “territory” without God's presence eventually becomes a burden, added stress, anxiety, pressure…and eventually, emptiness.
Without greater dependence on God, more of this world has ruined countless men.
Most importantly, Jabez knew that God's greatest gift wasn't enlarged territory, or more power, influence, or money
It was more of Him, the presence and Lordship of the One who has only our eternal best in mind.
Men, let’s stop asking God for more of the things of the world. Let’s recognize that He lives in us and pray for His presence to have greater sway over us moment by moment. His leadership. His guidance. His will in His way in His timing.
He must become greater. I must become less.
His Greatest Prayer Was for Holiness
Finally, Jabez prayed, "Keep me from harm."
Many scholars also translate that phrase, "Keep me from evil."
Jabez understood that the greatest threat to God's purpose wasn't outside of him. It was inside him.
His greatest enemy wasn't another person. It was his own pride. His own greed. His own capacity to drift away from the God who had blessed him.
That's still our greatest danger today.
Every one of us is only one compromised decision away from bringing pain into the very lives we've been called to bless. No wonder Jabez prayed for protection.
No wonder God answered.
What Will God Remember About Us?
The story ends with just six words, "And God granted what he requested."
No explanation. No fanfare. Just a faithful God answering the prayer of an honorable man.
One day, our names will also become part of history. The question isn't whether we'll leave something behind. The question is what kind of men we'll become before we leave.
Men of character before influence.
Men who refuse to let their past define them.
Men who pray bold prayers that expand God's Kingdom rather than their own.
Men who desire God's hand more than God's gifts.
Men who ask Him daily to guard their hearts from the sin that could destroy everything He has entrusted to them.
Those are the men God still delights to use.
Maybe the greatest prayer we could pray this week isn't simply, "Lord, enlarge my territory." Maybe it's this:
"Lord, make me the kind of man You can trust with more."
-Will
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