I may have been one to her at times, but I am truly thankful that my mother didn’t name me “Pain” or “Sorrow”. Throughout my life, Mom reminded me many times that my introduction to the world came at the expense of many hours in labor and great pain for her. Even after I was in my first crib, she believed I “was not out yet!”
From the time I learned of this, I wished never to hurt anyone. But I have. When I came upon the mention of another man whose mother not only told him he was a painful delivery but made sure the whole world knew it, forever, I decided there was hope for me.
In the middle of a detailed names-only lineage of David, the writer of I Chronicles pauses to spotlight one man:
“Jabez was a better man than his brothers, a man of honor. His mother had named him Jabez, meaning ‘Oh, the pain!’, or 'sorrow', saying, “A painful birth! I bore him in great pain!” Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: “'Oh, Lord, bless me indeed and expand my territory. Keep Your hand on me, and keep evil from me, that I may not cause pain!" And God granted him what he requested.”
And that’s it. Well, not quite.
Every commentary or book written on Jabez (that I have read) focuses on his prayer for ‘expanded territory’ as though he were mostly interested in being wealthy. And maybe he did become rich. But I see more of God in these two short verses than money, Sorrow, and Pain.
I see that I should pray to become a man of honor, whatever that may cost me.
I see that honor is the prerequisite to real success.
We all come into the world with pain and are never fully comfortable here on earth. It's part of the human experience.
But I see that an honorable man will ask God to bless others through him, even if it costs him pain. (It's an attitude of laying up treasures in heaven.)
I was once told by a wealthy mentor that the “better man” is the one with more money.
I respectfully disagree.
What good is money if God doesn’t
“Keep His hand on me . . . And keep evil from me— That I might not cause pain?”
In trying times like these, when life gives more pains and becomes more OF a pain than we ever imagined, we need relief. We need to bless others and we need a blessing.
But we can only do/be/receive if God says so. So pray. Ask Him. Who knows? He may grant our request, and expand our wisdom, understanding, humility, patience, love and joy.
If we're going to ask boldly, and we ARE commanded to come to God that way, why not ask for an expanded scope to demonstrate to everyone you meet what God can do in any life if you but ask, even if your given name is, "Pain"? I believe that's what an honorable person would do!
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