Pray Like Jabez, Part 3: Expansive Vision

1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (NKJV)

9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 

10 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.

Enlarge my territory … Everything You’ve put under my care, O Lord—take it, and enlarge it.

Isaiah 54:2 (NKJV)

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes.

In Jabez’s time, part of Israel’s recent national history was Joshua’s conquest of Canaan and the partitioning of the Promised Land into chunks of real estate for each tribe.

Aren’t you grateful for people who can think big? Conquerors like Joshua who inspire people to conquer.

Joshua 17:17–18:3 (NKJV)

17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, 

18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.” 

1 Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. 

2 But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 

3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?

Addressing Realities

Four clarifying distinctives of the prayer for territory:

The first distinctive: The prayer is not focused only on gaining property, but on expanding ministry (service). In fact, sometimes God pushes our efforts solely in the direction of ministry to others, even when we have different plans.

John 4:35 NKJV

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

The second distinction of the prayer for territory: The choice of new territory is usually not self-initiated, but God-directed. It’s good to make plans, and it’s fine to ask God to bless your plans. But the Jabez prayer for more territory is similar to asking for more blessing in that it doesn’t specify where or when or how, but instead asks God to take us past our limited horizons: I want You, God to guide my expanding influence.

Exodus 33:12–15 (NKJV)

Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”

The third distinctive: The prayer for territory is not focused on your comfort, but on change. Whenever you ask for “more,” you really are asking God to take you beyond where you have ever been before—into the unknown and unpredictable. God has an exciting adventure waiting for you, and it will involve some risks. But as you grow to know personally the God who urges you to exercise greater influence for Him, you’ll soon learn that He will never abandon you.

Philippians 3:12–14 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The fourth distinctive of the prayer for territory: God’s territory for you is not limited, but limitless. What would happen if God’s people stopped limiting Him?

Psalm 78:41–42 NKJV

Yes, again and again they tempted God, And limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,

Expanded Territory Misconceptions

Misconception #1: God is responsible for the results; I’m not.

If you’re waiting passively for God to do all the work in enlarging your territory, you are overlooking the active role He has assigned you. When you realize and embrace your share of the responsibility for increasing fruitfulness in your life, you will discover new motivation to pray the prayer of Jabez! (See Parable of the Talents, Luke 19:11-27).

Misconception #2: God is interested in spiritual things, not in numbers.

“some 100, 60, and 30-fold” are numbers used in Jesus’ expressions of good soil production numbers! (See Mark 4:8; John 15:8).

Misconception #3: If I’m doing God’s will, I won’t be afraid.

After the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, Moses appointed Joshua as his successor to lead the nation into and conquer the Promised Land. Joshua had watched for four decades as a failed, faithless generation dwindled away, and he must have thought many times, “How can I be sure Israel will do any better under my leadership?” That’s when God told him:

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Clearly, Joshua had known fear. And yet he obeyed in spite of his fear, leading Israel into one of the most glorious, faith-filled periods in the nation’s history. It’s natural to feel fear when faced with the unknown, especially when the obstacles look bigger than ourselves.

Taking It Home

If you’re doing your business God’s way, it’s not only right to ask for more, but He is waiting for you to ask. Your business is the territory God has entrusted to you. He wants you to accept it as a significant opportunity to touch individual lives, the business community, and the larger world for His glory. Asking Him to enlarge that opportunity brings Him only delight.

Suppose Jabez had been a wife and a mother. Then the prayer might have gone: “Lord, add to my family, favor my key relationships, multiply for Your glory the influence of my household.” Your home is the single most powerful arena on earth to change a life for God. Why wouldn’t He want you to be mighty for Him?

Discussion:

Suppose Jabez had been a husband...

Suppose Jabez had been a student...

Suppose Jabez had been a senior saint...

Suppose Jabez had been a young adult? Single? Married?

No matter what your vocation, the highest form of Jabez’s prayer for more territory might sound something like:

O God and King, please expand my opportunities and my impact in such a way that I touch more lives for Your glory. Let me do more for You!