In 2000, Bruce Wilkinson wrote a short devotional book called The Prayer of Jabez. Within the pages of that little book, Mr. Wilkinson used 1 Chronicles 4:10 as a pattern to effective prayers. Tens of millions of people bought the book hoping that perhaps this little verse and the story of this obscure person tucked away in the genealogy of Ashur could indeed reveal how to be blessed.
1 Chronicles 4:10, “Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him what he requested.”
The powerhouse in this verse isn’t that he asked, but that God granted his request. This verse became instantly famous with the publication of this book, but has it been taken out of context?
Unfortunately, there can be a fine line between trying to excel to higher levels to better one's position and being a covetous person that constantly focuses on being covetable. On the other end of the spectrum, there can also be a fine line between being content with where you are and being complacent. The drive to be better is inspired by God; the understanding of how far to go, how much to ask for, and when to stop before it takes control is also given to us by God.
James reveals one of the reasons that our requests to God may not be answered the way WE want them answered. He says in James 4:2-3, “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Finding that safe haven of contentment between the thresholds of complacency and covetousness might require a new way of thinking. The Bible urges us to think about heavenly things, and that serves as our motivation to endure less than perfect scenarios here because we’re anticipating a much better place later. However, that doesn’t come naturally or easily.
Hebrews 5:13-14, “For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
In his prayer, Jabez asked to have his boundaries expanded, but we can recognize the other part of his request as the heart of what he was asking for, “…that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm…”
Paul says something similar in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As we consider where our real citizenship is found (Philippians 3:20), it helps us to be more content with our worldly situation and it drives us to demonstrate our gratitude towards God in how we live in spiritual situations.
Contentment could be explained by being satisfied with less than you think you deserve. It’s what Jesus modeled for us by coming to this earth to save us from the consequences of our sins. Godliness, therefore, becomes the asset we should desire to have more of. The nice thing is that He’s made the steps clear and that goal obtainable every time we seek it.
2 Peter 1:3-8, “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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