FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

THE JOY AND PAIN OF JABEZ!

9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

I Chronicles 4:9
King James Version

When one refers to the “Joy of Jabez” many look to the prayer of Jabez but the pain of Jabez has its origin within his own name. Jabez name means sorrow, suffering, grief, which eludes to the pain.

What is problematic about this text is that many put the emphasis on vs. 10 that speaks to the joy but overlook the pain in vs. 9. What is important is that we understand the pain in vs. 9 is what ignites the prayer in vs. 10. It is after praying this prayer that brings Jabez joy because God granted what he asked.

However, this sermon features the pain prior to the prayer. Why? Because life happens. There are times that life and puts us in the worst of places. The lessons that we have learned from this is that sometimes the worst place to be in, can be the BEST PLACE TO PRAY IN. So, the question becomes, what could have been viewed as pain in the passage?

Prior to vs. 9, we consistently see the phrases, son of and the father of, but when we get to vs. 9 there is no mention of any father in the life of Jabez. What possibly speaks to the pain of Jabez was the neglect of an absent father in the life of a son. But the joy comes in recognizing that there is a HEAVENLY FATHER that Jabez prayed to that resulted in the enlarging of his territory. The joy is knowing that the absence of an earthly father will not negate the actions of a Heavenly Father who will answer our prayers.

It is because of this pain, it pushed him to pray! Last I checked, when we look at the word P.U.S.H., it means to PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS. If there is a void in our lives then go to God in prayer. The scriptures tell us that, “…we have not because we ask not…” Jabez’s prayer resulted in joy because his reality would not become his destiny. Jabez endured pain to embrace joy that the world couldn’t give him and the world couldn’t take away.

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor