Second, consider the character of Jabez's petition. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6). To direct such a prayer to God demonstrates that one is trusting in and thus dependent on Him for everything that is needed. Because we are to worship the Lord our God and serve Him alone, Jesus taught us to address our prayers, saying, "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 4:10, 6:9). The earnest, fervent prayer that is prayed in true humility ishonorable before God.Īnother aspect of the attitude of Jabez is that he directed his prayer to God. "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter5:6-7). The second of these characteristics is humility.
We are told that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). One of them is being earnest, which means intense, zealous, sincere, and determined. There are two characteristics that are needed for one to be honorable in prayer. Why he was more honorable than his brothers we are not told, but it may have to do with the nature of his prayer. There are other theories as to who and what he was, but our purpose here is simply to see what lessons we can learn fromthis passage of scripture.įirst, consider the attitude of Jabez. From the context, it does appear that he was of the tribe of Judah, and some think that he was a son of Koz (cf. Who was Jabez? There is no mention of him anywhere else in the scriptures.
"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).
1-Chronicles 4:9-10 - The Prayer of Jabez
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