Jabez

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." 1 Chronicles 4:9 NIV

Okay, here it is, by popular request, we will look at this great "Prayer of Jabez" which has captivated the Christian and secular book markets. 

Imagine being born "in pain." I wonder if Jabez ever thanked his mom for his name. Can you imagine? "Because you were a pain to me son, I give you this name: Jabez!" "Wow, thanks Mom!" Jabez started on the wrong side of the tracks.

If you haven't read the passage where these couple of verses about Jabez are found, I encourage you to do so. Often we tend to skip over the genealogies, but here is one you don't want to miss. There was something special about Jabez, which was worthy of explanation in these verses of family history.

First, we learn that Jabez was "more honorable than his brothers." That's a compliment! He must have been the one that kept the peace in the home. He could be trusted. He had a good name in the sense that he was respectable. You could depend on Jabez, in spite of the way his life began.

But the writer obviously feels it necessary to explain his name. It's as if he is saying, "yes, he is honorable, but his name is Jabez, because..." Names had such great importance in the culture, because they usually told so much about a person. Jabez‘s name, which means “to grieve,” must have been confusing to people, when you also say that he was “more honorable.” It needed explanation.

My radio partner and I often joke about who we were earlier in our Christian life. If our friends then could see us today, they might wonder if we are the same people. The fact is that we are not. We are new creations. Christ has made a difference in our lives. We may be “tagged” with a name from the past in some people’s minds, but we are indeed different because of Christ.

Is there anything in your life that needs explaining? Life didn’t turn out exactly as you had planned. You made some mistakes. You took a wrong turn. You messed up! People who knew you then just can’t believe the change that there is in your life today. You and I have something in common with our brother Jabez.

Studying Jabez reminds me not to judge someone by their past, but by where they are today, and what God can make them tomorrow!