The Prayer of Jabez

I. Introduction: The book, The Prayer of Jabez, by Bruce Wilkinson, has been a New York Times Bestseller and has spawned a large number of products to reinforce the use of the prayer. What is the prayer of Jabez and has this verse been misunderstood?

II. Text: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

III. Background of the book

A. The author, Bruce Wilkinson

B. Founder and president of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. Author of several other books.

C. The history of the author and the prayer of Jabez.

D. Wilkinson was in his senior year of seminary in Dallas, TX and was wondering what to do next, where to go. His seminary chaplain pointed him to the prayer of Jabez as an example of one who did more than what was required or expected, PoJ pages 9-10. Wilkinson read the prayer and studied it over and over. Chart 1: Wilkinson’s Testimonial

E. He then offers his “proof” of the success of this prayer.

F. His success. The testimony of hundreds of others who have prayed the prayer. His “proof” is based on the subjective feelings and experiences of individuals. This can be used to prove that Tarot cards are real, that people can consult with the dead on behalf of the living, to many things that have no relationship to the soul at all.

G. He does not offer any scriptural support of the prayer of Jabez.

H. Nothing from New Testament writers telling believers to pray the prayer of Jabez. No words from Jesus pointing back to the prayer of Jabez.

IV. What is the prayer of Jabez?

A. Chart 2: The text.

B. This is the only thing that is mentioned in scripture about Jabez.

C. As we will observe, much of the rest must come from speculation.

V. The message of the book.

A. In the preface Wilkinson states that “God always answers this prayer.”

B. Chart 3: Preface He states this, and similar things to it, throughout the book as if other prayers are optional for God but this one.

C. The prayer is treated like a magical incantation.

D. “Clearly the outcome (his great blessings) can be traced to his prayer” P.15

E. The Bible clearly tells us that God answered Jabez. The Bible did not then command us to pray this prayer.

F. However, Wilkinson continues… “I want to show you just how dramatically each of Jabez’s requests can release something miraculous in your life.” P.15

G. He then challenges us to expect miracles as a normal part of our lives, p.16. There is no place in the Bible where the believer is told to expect miracles as a normal part of existence. In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 16:4 that an adulterous generation seeks after a sign.

H. Ultimate aim of the prayer.

I. Chart 4 seems to indicate that the prayer is not intended to bring health and wealth.

J. However, other quotes and the adherent’s testimonies makes it clear that they see it as a means of prospering physically.

K. Chart 5: quotes on health/wealth gain. Chart 6: The investment banker analogy Testimonials

L. Nothing in the book seems to prepare someone that God’s will may be that they have nothing of significance in the financial or business realm.

M. Implied throughout the book that the physical blessings will follow the spiritual blessings.

N. What about the early Christians and apostles and their impoverished state?

O. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 – pursue godliness and contentment above riches.2 Corinthians 6:3-10 –The poor state of the apostles

P. We must be willing to accept that our needs will be met.

Q. Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom and your needs will be met. We are not promised anything more than this.

R. Some do not have the power to eat of the wealth.

S. As Paul wrote Timothy (already quoted), the desire for riches can lead one away from Christ. James 4:2-4 – Asking to spend on pleasures. Some were following after Jesus for what they could gain, and Jesus rebuked them, John 6:26-27.

VI. Negatives

A. A focus on praying a specific prayer, much like a magic spell.

B. Some do this with the Lord’s prayer. Instead of it being a model for prayer as Jesus gave it, people think that it is a ritual prayer. Wilkinson does not tell his readers to pray for the type of things that Jabez prayed for, but repeat his prayer word for word.

C. Jesus warned against vain repetitions.

D. Chart 7: Wilkinson’s quotes Chart 8: Matthew 6:7 There are some who think that if they say a specific prayer over and over they will receive forgiveness or other favor from God. In fairness, the author teaches that the prayer must be prayed in faith believing that you will receive but he also teaches vain repetition. The plain message of the book is that the power is in the prayer itself for “God always answers this prayer.”

E. Too much speculation about Jabez, his background, his thoughts, his future, his ideas, etc.

F. Wilkinson has taken a man of whom extremely little is known and has weaved his own idea of Jabez into the man. There is little of “maybe he thought this” and mostly “Jabez realized…” This is always a danger in studying Bible characters, we put too much of ourselves and our time into them. If you read the book, remember that 99% of what is attributed to Jabez is a figment of Wilkinson’s imagination.

G. Seeking God’s blessings is the ultimate act of worship, page 49.

H. No Bible scripture ever tells us that seeking God’s blessings is the ultimate act of worship. The greatest command is to serve the Lord your God (not seek things from Him), Matthew 22:36-37.

I. An unbiblical pattern for spiritual growth.

J. Chart 9: Making Jabez Mine

K. Pray the prayer of Jabez.

L. No mention of other prayer Repetition of this prayer.

M. Re-read the book.

N. Nothing said of Bible study. How can we draw closer to God and develop the relationship with God if we are not spending much time with HIS word?

O. Record changes in your life directly attributed to the prayer of Jabez.

P. How can we know that God has specifically answered our prayers? Could we record if He answered “no?” Esther 4:13-14 – Mordecai would not say, “You were brought to the kingdom for this time,” but “perhaps…” We must be careful attributing things to the work of God, rather we should give praise to God for all things and let Him be the only one who knows what He has done and what He has allowed to happen.

Q. False standards of success.

R. For Wilkinson, success equals more converts The New Testament never equates success with new converts since that is God’s work and there are few who will be saved, Luke 13:23-24.

S. Seems to imply that none of these would prosper without the prayer. Nothing is said of faithfulness to God, Bible study, etc.

T. The steps are guaranteed to make sure that the Prayer of Jabez adherent becomes an evangelist for this prayer and the follow on products.

U. Could it be that some are being converted to this prayer and not to God? It is likely, and seems evident from the testimonials, that the prayer has turned God into a genie at the command of the Jabezites.

VII. Positives

A. We often do not labor in prayer for God asking Him to use us in His service.

B. Maybe in thought but are we genuinely wanting God to accomplish His will through us?

C. 2 Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” Do we pray for opportunities and pray for the ability to do something with the opportunities? Colossians 4:2-6. Do we put God’s agenda before our own? God has made us to be workers for Him, Ephesians 2:10.

D. We must realize how dependent we are upon God.

E. He is the source of our power, Ephesians 6:10,13. We are wholly dependent upon Him.

F. Pray to not enter into temptation.

G. There are many temptations surrounding us and as God’s people we should pray for deliverance from evil and, if we must face the enemy, victory through Jesus. Danger in becoming overconfident.

H. Sin thwarts the ability of God to be glorified in us.

I. When we are hypocritical we bring shame on Christ’s name, 1 Peter 4:14-16. Wilkinson tells readers not to sin because the power from God will be interrupted, not because God is holy and we should be holy and not sin.

VIII. The power of prayer.

A. The focus should not be on “The Prayer of Jabez” but the power of prayer itself.

B. Other factors affecting prayer.

C. James 5:16, the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 1:5-7, Pray without doubting.

D. It is not a matter of having the right prayer, but having the right to pray and praying in God’s way.

IX. Concluding comments

A. Ralph Dettwiler:

B. “There are good points in the book, but the bad parts make it poison.”“In the book, we are not taught how to talk with God, but what to pray.”

C. This is a fad, like so many others. Is it harmless?

D. What if one prayed the prayer of Jabez consistently but did not reap great physical blessings?

E. His misunderstanding about the prayer of Jabez could cause his faith to grow even weaker, perhaps doubting in God. Without a Biblical grounding he would fail to realize the contentment that the Bible commands us to have. The ritual nature of the prayer and the expectation that “it is the prayer that God always hears” stands in the way of a true relationship with God. The believers trust is in the words of the prayer not the God to whom the prayer must be addressed. (What if the devil granted “blessings” to draw the believer farther from God?)

F. Religion is not a get rich quick, take this pill and all will be well, agreement. It is the means of making us like Jesus and drawing us closer to the Father.