Careful What You Ask For

"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request." - 1 Chronicles 4:10

Several years ago there was a small book published by Bruce Wilkinson. It sold over 9 million copies and made the New York Times bestselling list. The message was simple - claiming God's blessings for yourself is acceptable and encouraged. Is it true that the Lord wants to bless you and I and every other Christian? Certainly, but this doesn't imply that His blessings will bring prosperity.

My perspective on the prayer from Jabez, captured in 1 Chronicles, is one of a man's desire to serve God in a more comprehensive manner. The key to this verse falls into the phrase, "... enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, ...." This brings to the forefront a desire to serve God in a much grander manner and all that is included with that. I find myself at this same point many times. Yet there is always that little voice inside of me whispering, "you really don't want to serve God in a larger manner. you don't have time, and you have so many bills, and blah and blah ..." The human heart and mind will try to rationalize the voice of the Holy Spirit with a plethora of excuses.

After all of that is done and the desire is still there though - you know God is calling you to serve. So when you pray for God to enlarge your territory, be ready for Him to act. He is in need of many talents and I promise you with everything you can bring to the table, He can use one of them. We sit back and rationalize that we're not preachers. That's who God needs - the men and women that have gone through theological school. Phew, that let's most of us off the hook, if it were true. Take for example say, Peter or John. Hmmm... fishermen by trade. Probably studied the ancient scriptures with their family in line with the culture of the time, but theologians...not likely. Okay, not a fare comparison, after all they walked with Christ himself, that's a serious advantage.

What about Nick Vujicic? If you're not familiar with the name, have a look at this. With no arms and no legs he spends his entire life preaching the gospel and inspiring people all around the globe to do the same. He could have felt sorry for himself and stayed in the special needs ward at the local hospital for his entire life. No, he looked at what God had given him, humor, speaking skills and a desire to teach others and allowed the Lord to enlarge his territories well beyond Australia. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions have seen Nick's story and taken in the dedication that he has for God to do something with their life.
Bring what you have to the table, God knows exactly what He gave you and why. He will use it if you allow Him to. It's a piece of cake for Him to expand your territories if and when He knows you are ready for it. Don't get stuck on the "Bless me" part of 1 Chronicles 4:10 without stepping up for the later "enlarge my territory." because God will do just that.

(c) Sondove Enterprises, 2011
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