Honourable

.. keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 

(1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV)

All communities of the world identify each person with a name.  The naming of a child is at times based on culture or other family considerations.  There are communities where names are given referring to heros, relatives or even seasons.  The creativity and freedom in the naming space is beautiful to embrace as one moves from one community to another. While some names might seem more difficult to pronounce than others, some are common and used across different places. The sound of the names as pronounced by native speakers, tend to have a musical ring, making them special.  Names speak to our inner selves representing our first sense of identity and recognition.  When people do not like their names they go to great lengths to change them, with a commitment to carry a name that speaks to and of them. Dale Carnegie said: “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language”. In the bible, we read of a man, Jabez, whose name meant “pain”.  His mother having experienced a lot of pain at child birth, gave him a name that related to the situation of his birth.

 Our reference verse comes from what is known as the prayer of Jabez.  Despite having a name that meant pain, Jabez chose to ask the Lord God to change his circumstances.  In so doing, he was choosing not to be defined by the meaning of his name. Jabez prayed that God would bless him greatly and enlarge his territory.  This is the part that most of us relate to as it means progress and notable prosperity.  Beloved, what caught me was the last part of his prayer, where he asked God to keep him from evil so that he would not cause others pain.  Jabez chose not to be one whose interactions led to the pain of others, no wonder he is referred to as honourable, a man worthy of respect.  Though Jabez meant pain and I guess he struggled with this name, his heart’s desire was that he would not cause others pain.  Despite his life experiences, he was decent and upright enough to desire that others would know him differently. 

 Brethren, I do not know what your life has presented to you, it is important that we remember that God changes situations.  We do not have to accept the bad that we have been dealt by life or others, Jabez shows us the way.  Regardless of what others have labeled us as, we can ask God to change it. Not much is said about Jabez in the bible, but he models for us that with genuine prayer to God almighty, the trajectory of our lives could change.  God granted Jabez’s request and He will grant our own ask when we approach Him in faith.  We get to learn that we do not have to yield to what surrounds us.  In the midst of many other names, Jabez stands out as a treasure that rose on his knowledge of God.   Beloved, you do not have to be what you have been through.  Jabez had symbolized pain but God changed his identity in the blessing that He gave him.  People saw Jabez the blessed man and not Jabez the pain.  How we respond to a situation is what speaks of who we truly are.  Our God is all powerful, He does things in a big and mighty way, so when you come to Him, ask for big and great things.  Jabez prayed to be blessed indeed and God in turn, blessed Him.  Do not always live on survival mode, step out boldly in faith.  Finally, remember that our Father is waiting for you to call, He will answer you.

 Thoughts:

 What would you wish to change about your life?

 When and where have you approached God about it?

 How has God responded to you?