In the recent past, I've heard numerous media preachers and Bible teachers make reference to "the prayer

of Jabez."

In my Bible reading I recalled a Bible person with that name, and looking him up in a concordance I re-read what is

here stated:

1 Chron. 4:9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying,

Because I bare him with sorrow.

Read: http://www.christianwatch.info/prayer-for-the-sick/

1 Chron. 4:10 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.

Scanning the above text one finds some interesting facts and probably things that could develop into deeper

applications. However, such would be the case in most Scriptures that we might study, specially as we remember

Paul's teaching from Romans 15:4:

Rom. 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and

comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Within the past month a book was placed in my hands entitled: The Prayer of Jabez with the subtitle: Breaking

Through to the Blessed Life. The book is authored by Bruce Wilkinson, founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible

Ministries. The book is published by Multnomah Publishers, Sisters, Oregon, and carries a copyright date of 2000.

The back cover of this book offers impressive advertisements of its contents: "Do you want to be extravagantly

blessed by God? Are you ready to reach for the extraordinary? To ask God for the abundant blessings He longs to

give you? Join Bruce Wilkinson to discover how the remarkable prayer of a little-known Bible hero can release God's

favor, power, and protection. You'll see how one daily prayer can help you leave the past behind--and break through

to the life you were meant to live."

Also See: http://www.christianwatch.info/prayer-strength/

The four parts of Jabez's prayer, in one sentence, will be reviewed in what I will call the Pauline perspective, and then

the reader will be able to make his own conclusions as to what is the real breakthrough to the blessed life.

JABEZ AND PAIN, PAUL AND SUFFERING

The Hebrew word Jabez means: "to grieve, or be sorrowful."1 The text of 1 Chronicles 4:9 explains how this name
came to be, as Jabez's mother "bare him with sorrow," and therefore called his name: Jabez, i.e. sorrow, or pain. In

order to memorialize whatever pain/sorrow she had, Jabez's name would forever remind the son of what his mother
experienced. However, as part of the Prayer of Jabez, he asks that "it would not grieve me." The word grieve here is

italicized because its the same Hebrew word translated sorrow in verse 9, and is from the root word Jabez. Observe

this interesting quote: "The reason of this is probably that the vow had acquired importance sufficient to make it

worthy of being handed down only from God's having so fulfilled his wish, that his life became a contradiction of his

name; the son of sorrow having been free from pain in life, and having attained to greater happiness and reputation

than his brothers."2

Therefore, God was faithful in responding to Jabez's request if for no other reason than that his name [sorrow] was

reversed in his life and his reputation outshined that of his peers.

Now, by comparison, let's look at Paul the apostle. Shortly after his Damascus' road conversion, it was told to

Ananias by the Lord:

Must Read: http://www.christianwatch.info/ash-wednesday/

Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

If ever there was a man who suffered for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ it was Paul. And yet, throughout that life

of pain, sorrow, and suffering, we hear from his lips and pen words like the following:

2 Cor. 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

2 Cor. 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most

gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Cor. 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for

Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Phil. 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Paul was not named sorrowful as was Jabez by his mother. Rather Paul was permitted to bear the name of Jesus

Christ among the Gentile world with great suffering by God's choice. Jabez was successful in reversing his

reputation/name [i.e. sorrow] in his lifetime and this was accomplished by God for him. Paul planted the seed of the

gospel of the grace of God as Christ's apostle by means of great suffering so that we who follow may be pointed to

that same sustaining grace of God, and God of all grace.

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