The Prayer of Jabez
I Chronicles 4:6

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.

When you read the book of Chronicles which is the book of generations or genealogy.
You will find that its main emphasis is on Judah and the Kings of Judah, whilst the book of Kings is mainly about Israel( the other ten tribes ).
It traces the ancestry of the Jews, and by the time you get to chapter 4 it talks about the Judah's ancestry, it almost sends you to sleep with its monotony, then this refreshing verse in verse nine, almost like a stream of fresh cold water on a hot day, it is just a verse but it says so much. Sometimes just a look can say so much, my children understand my looks, and frowns and what I mean. One look could say "I wont deal with you now but when I get home, I will show you what it means to behave!"
This verse teaches us so much, it is short but it has a clear message.
But first we need to tackle current teaching and interpretations, Jesus did this many times, the truth will always correct the error, the truth is not polite,and cannot it be suppressed, but will always find a way of surfacing.
For instance the Sadducees asked Jesus about the resurrection, about a woman marrying seven brothers, as they died, and they asked who's wife she would be, and Jesus said "you do greatly err, not knowing the scriptures neither the power of God"
For this same reason many of the modern teachings, miss the point for they neither know the scriptures, or how to build precept upon precept, nor the power of God.
The prayer of Jabez is not about the accumulation of wealth, it is not about buying a mansion in the country, it is not about physical prosperity, or having your own jet, or being able to fly first class, it is not about things, and praying to get things from God, to the new testament believer, it is about the power of request, and recognizing the
omni potency of God.

This the weakness of many modern ministries everything with the word blessing is interpeted to mean money wealth and the great possessions. When Jesus continually warned his generation that a mans life does not consist of the things which he possess
Jabez literally means "he will cause Pain or sorrow" then it tells you why.
We will never know the full reason he was called by this name, but we do know that the mother bore him in sorrow, it could be that she had a difficult child birth, or that a member of the family died, or the husband left her we do not know, but what we do know is that it affected his life, names have a way of being self fulfilling prophecies, Jacob was truly Jacob (tricky, dodgy).
Don't call your child ricky…it means a rat….
Jabez life was a failure, everything went wrong, his job his family, his marriage, he had no lasting joy or peace. He did not go to the Psychologist, he did not book sessions with the counselor, to talk about his inner feelings, he did not go to Madame ruby, or a stargazer, or a witchdoctor, or many of these modern ministries to reverse the curse and give them money. He Went to God …he made his request to God.
This excerpt is about the power of request, it is about talking to someone who can really make a difference. Hallelujah..
He was more honorable than his brethren because of this, he stood out in his generation, because he understood the greatness of God.
God I know what my mother said, I know what people think of me now, but you can change it, you can turn it around, He called on the God of Israel…it almost sounds romantic, we need churches today that know how to call on God.
"Oh that you would bless me indeed" my life has been the opposite but you alone can change it
Jeremiah 31:35 (NKJV)
Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The LORD of hosts is His name):
My God you are awesome. Bless me, for when you bless me no one can curse me.
Enlarge my territory, I want you to be with me every step if the way, take away pain and sorrow.