“‘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 Chron 4:10).
This prayer of Jabez has been popularized, but I wonder how much it has been practiced. It’s one good reason to read the Chronicles, isn’t it! What should we be really desiring? 1. Increased blessing from the Lord—“indeed” (as opposed to the trinkets of this world). 2. Increased responsibilities to care for the King’s estate. 3. Increased direction as the Lord’s hand moves in our lives. 4. Increased holiness as we live in separation from evil. 5. An increased influence for good, helping to heal, not hurt, others around us.
Of course, every blessing increases our burden of stewardship, and enlarged territory brings with it enlarged tasks. But they say that you can tell a lot about a person by whether, when the burden grows, they ask God for a lighter load or a stronger back.