Day 6 - Free to be Me (Part 2)

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.' So God granted him what he requested. 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez prays "me," "my," and "I" five times in one paragraph, yet God answers his prayer.  The answer may lie in the fact that he was more honorable than his brothers.  Not many would have taken the time to get to know Jabez beyond the role cast for him.  Though Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, yet, it was Jabez, not his brothers, who wore the stigma. One look at him, car doors are locked, purses are clutched, streets are crossed not because of what's on the inside but the outside.

People purchase "pain relievers" for a reason.  Were the contents of the package to read "pain causer" no would have anything to do with it.   Although Jabez caused his mother pain coming into this world the label of his name was in contradiction to his character. But he didn't quit.  He didn't offer excuses.  He appealed to a higher court.  Jabez saw something in himself his own mother could not see.  He asked God to work through his condition to produce abundance.  "Bless me indeed... that I may not cause pain"

My friends, people will throw you away, not aware God is trying to use you. What they fail to realize is that with God less is more and nothing is best.  I've seen "slow learners" graduate ivy league, ADHD skip a grade and and felons become CEO's.  God answers the "me," "my," and "I" prayers because what looks selfish isn't selfish at all.  When you are blessed a family is blessed - a community is blessed - a nation is blessed.

Prayer:
Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.

Go Deeper?

Genesis 12:1-4; Judges 6; 1 Samuel 17-18; Matthew 25:14-30; 1John 4:4