The prayer of Jabez is almost unique in the Bible; he seems to have been a man of very godly desires. His birth involved great agony and sorrow; thus his mother gave him the name of Jabez, which means sorrow, or affliction. It seems that the circumstances of his birth, and his upbringing at the hands of his godly mother, gave him a true appreciation of the things of real worth. Thank God for such mothers, and the influence that they have had on the lives of their offspring.

We must realize that in the understanding of the meaning, significance and application of the Old Testament Scriptures, we must always examine them in the light of the New Testament. Some men have done much damage; who either through ignorance or malice have ignored this principle. They have for the sake of personal profit, or material gain, tried to pervert this lovely prayer. It has been used by such people to support their ‘Prosperity Doctrine’, which is really error.

Jabez’ request was to the God of Israel, when it seems that he did not belong to the nation of Israel. From 1Cron. 2:55 it seems that he had a city or village named after him. It is obvious that he was not seeking for wealth or luxury, as he and those over whom he exercised some influence and leadership were Kenites, descendants of Moses’ father in law. These people never built houses, but lived in tents. Neither did they conduct any business, sowed no seed, and planted no vineyards. They did not wear themselves out with such pursuits, but instead lived daily in the enjoyment of an inheritance that was not theirs. Because of their faithful obedience to their father’s command, God promised that they would never lack a man to stand before Him forever.

Being Kenites, they had no right to any inheritance amongst the people of Israel. Any portion that they were given was purely because of the goodness of God. You will recall how that Moses pleaded with his brother in law to accompany the Children of Israel on their journey to the Promised Land, promising to treat him and his very well. However Hobab declined, and returned to his own land. Later he must have had a change of heart, and he and some of his relatives migrated to the Land of Canaan.

Those who dwelt at Jabez were said to be "of the Scribes". Scribes were those who handled the word of God, and copied it with great reverence and accuracy. Also numbered amongst them was the father of the house of Rechab. These were faithful people who had great respect for their elders, and though tempted by Jeremiah at God’s command; they refused to drink, wine because of what their father had commanded them generations before. There was a sad contrast between them and the children of Judah, who did not hesitate to break the commands of God, even though His will was written in His law. Even though He ‘rose up early’ and sent His prophets to warn them. All these things add up to show us something of the character of Jabez, and his people, and they prove beyond doubt that he was not at all covetous, nor did he greedily desire that he might possess much real estate, wealth or luxury. Please read Jeremiah chapter 35.

It is important to notice the meaning of Jabez’ name, and the circumstances of his birth. His name means ‘sorrow’ or ‘affliction’. Carnal Christians often despise such things. They contend that the child of God has a perfect right to perfect health, and a life of joy and material prosperity. However, God often uses sorrow and affliction to develop character, and spiritual quality in the lives of His children. History is replete with examples that prove this. Once when believers were poor and struggling. When they were despised and persecuted by others, they were ‘rich in faith’, and showed by their godly lives that they were ‘heirs of the kingdom’. Jas. 2:5.

I once met a shoe shine boy on a train in Kerala, (India). He had been driven from his home by a tyrant stepmother, and was sleeping in a pump shed near the river at Palghat. While going to wash in the river in the early morning over a period of weeks, he often passed an old couple who were woodcutters. They would go into the forest each day, and cut a bundle of sticks or branches, and carry that bundle on their heads to the town where they would than sell the bundle for a small sum. These dear people, though desperately poor themselves, invited the boy to stay at their home, & to leave his few things there. Their home was just a mud hut with thatched roof, but each day they would read the Bible and pray before going out to their work. Mary and Lazar (the old couple’s names), were of the poor of this world, but rich in faith. (May God bless them)! The shoeshine boy, though eventually restored to his father, never forgot the kindness of this dear old couple. Here surely is an example of how God used poverty and sorrow to produce real spiritual quality in the lives of His children.

Jabez also learned the power of prayer, and probably learned it from his mother. He realized that prayer was not just a means of getting rich, but a means of drawing near to God, and enlarging his borders. That is to enlarge his spiritual inheritance, his knowledge of God, and the enjoyment of sweet communion with Him. It seems that even though his brethren were both godly and obedient, yet Jabez was more honorable than they were. He had a deep longing for the blessing of the God of Israel, and the desire that his borders might be enlarged, were related to the blessing of God.

It is said of the sons of another, (Obed Edom), who was a Gittite, (that is he came from Gath, in the territory of the Philistines, and was the town of Goliath), that God blessed him. The reason for this blessing was that he provided a place in his house for the ark. He obviously loved the presence of God, and his descendants were granted a place in the service of God as porters, or burden-bearers. 1Chron. 26: 4-8. How we need such today, Gal. 6:2. All these things add up to show us that the enjoyment of God’s blessing, is a spiritual thing, not necessarily a matter of material prosperity

The blessings of God, which He has bestowed upon us, are spiritual blessings, and they are ours in Christ, and they are connected with heavenly things and places. (See Eph. 1:3-14). The Lord Jesus warned us not to lay up treasure on earth, because of the danger of it being lost through theft, moth and rust. Instead He encouraged us to lay up treasure in heaven, where there is no danger of loss through these things. Matt. 6: 19-21. He looked on the rich young ruler with sadness, and advised him to dispose of his material possessions, distributing the proceeds to the poor, then to come and follow Him. Mark, 10:21.

The corrupt and fallen nature of Adam, which we all possess, craves for material things, for a selfish, easy life of luxury. But the Divine nature within us longs that we may enjoy the spiritual and heavenly blessings that are ours in Christ. The Holy Spirit by whom we have been sealed, is called the "Holy Spirit of Promise", and is the "Earnest of our inheritance", Eph. 1:13-14. It is his longing that we may also desire, and enjoy the blessings that are ours in Christ.

The challenge to you and I is whether temporary material possessions are of greater importance to us, than the unseen, spiritual, eternal things. When our lives here are ended, it will not matter whether we have lived in a mud hut, or a palace. When we die we will leave all behind, but not the spiritual things that we may have accumulated. It is so sad when we spend our energies and our days in the pursuit of material things, and neglect that which is spiritual.

I once heard a story about a Christian man who prospered in business, and it became his preoccupation in life. He had no time, nor any desire to attend the meetings, when believers gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus, to worship Him, or to learn of Him. However at last the man found time to die, and when nearing his end, he was visited by some of the believers who tried to comfort him. But he was full of regret, and lamented over his wasted life. He said, "I have filled my pockets with the sands of the desert, and I have lost my crown". May it please the Lord to save us from such regret!

Let us learn from the prayer of Jabez, to seek spiritual riches, to enjoy more the blessings of God which are ours in Christ. He longed that God’s hand would be with him, so too we need to constantly sense the hand of God upon our lives. Nehemiah often made mention of the fact that the "Good hand of his God was upon him". It was because of this that the amazing things recorded in that book could be accomplished. The request that God’s hand might be with him, implies the thought of help and support. It is well for us to remember what the Lords Jesus said in John 15:5, "Without Me you can do nothing". May God give to you and I, this lovely spirit of absolute dependence upon Him!

Jabez’ final request was that God would keep him from evil. This is indeed a noble desire, and was just what the Lord Jesus asked His Father to do for us. (John 17:15). If you and I are enabled to live a holy life, that is a testimony to the keeping power of God. It grieves the heart of God, when we sin, or fall into evil. It grieves the Holy Spirit who indwells us, and we are commanded not to do this, (Eph. 4:30). We also lose our joy when we sin, and this joy will not return until we have confessed and forsaken the sin. But thank God for the ongoing power of the blood of Christ, that goes on cleansing us from all sin. (1John 1:7-9.)

The prayer of Jabez shows us how that his heart was really in tune with the heart of God, because he asks that he may be kept from evil, "that it may not grieve ME". It is wonderful to realize that our hearts can be brought into tune with the heart of our loving Heavenly Father. We must admit that such holy desires are unfortunately quite rare today. We find to our sorrow that there is a very shallow sense of the horrible nature of sin. May the Lord Jesus strengthen in us every right desire, and give us a hunger for the spiritual and the eternal things!

Let us remember the words of Mary, "He hath filled the hungry with good things, but the rich He hath sent empty away", Luke 1:53. Let us also remember the words of the Lord Jesus, "Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled", Matt. 5:6.

May He save us from covetousness, which we are told is idolatry, Eph. 5:5. May He enable us to "Be content with such things as we have", Heb. 13:5. Knowing that He will never leave or forsake us, and that He is all that we could ever need.

Thank God that He has translated us from the kingdom of darkness, into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. That He has made us fit to share the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. 1:12-13. Let us have a much deeper longing, to enjoy all that is ours in Christ, those spiritual and eternal blessings.