Jabez' Prayer

Today's verse is I Chronicles 4:9-10
     And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
     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.

 The prayer of Jabez, his motivation seems to come from his mothers confession that he was born in sorrow. This affected him, others would tell you his focus was on being materially blessed. However, when I first saw this hidden gem of scripture, I did not see the material requests that he made (and he did make them first, my opinion, as if to get them out of the way for the important thing,) that God might be with him and keep him from evil. If we agree with God, that we are indeed evil, prone to it, then we must consider this the primary purpose of his prayer, and while God granted him the other things, being kept from evil is the biggest thing, the others a nice add on. Which is your priority, if it is the wrong one, it is as Christ said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Selah, (or think about that.) Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: 1 Chron 1:28–5:22
Tomorrow’s reading will be:  1 Chron 5:23–8:40 and John 13–14