Sunday Sermons
Fruitful Labor
Fruitful Labor
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose” (Philippians 1:21-22).
How do we view our future? Paul was confident that whatever time he had left on the earth would be time involved in “fruitful labor”. Is this how we view the future? Do we anticipate being involved in God’s work and do we believe that this work will be enjoyable, productive and edifying? Being with Christ would involve “great gain” but continuing to live on the earth would also involve “gain”. For Paul living on and being released from prison would only result in more souls being saved and a further expansion of his preaching activities. “The gospel preached, in souls saved, in saints strengthened” (Erdman p. 66.
The Prayer of Jabez
“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, ‘Because I bore him with pain’. Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, ‘Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him what he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
“Oh that You would bless me indeed”
On the surface this may sound like a selfish and materialistic prayer, but God did answer the prayer, which means that the motivation behind wanting to be blessed was neither selfish nor rooted in a love of material things. There is nothing wrong in wanting to receive God’s blessings, both spiritual and physical, to use them in His service. Notice the word “indeed”, which almost serves as a couple of exclamation points. “Bless me---really bless me”. As I ponder the opening line of this prayer I wonder if there are many blessings that we are missing simply because we are not asking. James noted, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2). From verses such as Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling”, reveals that God has plans for people and nations that such people end up hindering. God wanted to bless Israel, but their unfaithfulness prevented them from becoming a blessed and useful nation. Compare with Deuteronomy chapters 28-30, and Jeremiah 18:1ff. What blessings are we currently frustrating? “Jabez enjoyed a position of greater honor and status in the community than his brothers did. What, with an ill-omened name like Jabez (it means ‘pain’)! How did he do it? In popular thinking so negative a name, which commemorated the hard time his mother had in giving birth to him, made Jabez a born loser. Dogged with such an unlucky name, how could he ever succeed in life? But he did! The Chronicler gives away Jabez’s secret with relish in verse 10. It was prayer that did it—or rather the God to whom Jabez had the sense to pray. Robert L. Stevenson contributed to this theme when he wrote: ‘Life does not consist of having a good hand at cards, but of learning how to play a poor hand well’. The Chronicler would have agreed, adding that in the game of life an essential part of learning how to play is learning how to pray” (2 Chronicles, Leslie Allen, pp. 47-48). I am impressed that as Jabez prepares to go out and make his mark in the world that he does not place trust in his abilities, neither does he bow before Canaanite deities or other man-made gods, rather He petitions of the God of Israel.
“Bless Me”
This bold statement reminds me of when Jacob was on the verge of meeting Esau after years of estrangement and said, “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered” (Genesis 32:11-12). Consider the line, “For You said”. Jacob is reminding God of what God had promised to him years previously (28:13-14). One writer called this “pleading the promises”. Do we plead the promises? When unity is threatened do we plead John 17:20-21? When we feel alone do we plead Hebrews 13:5-6? When we are tempted do we plead 1 Corinthians 10:13?
“Enlarge my border”
For Jabez this may have meant an increase of land, this would be especially true during the period when the Israelites were seeking to drive out the Canaanites, but for us it could mean an increase of opportunities, that is, enlarge our spiritual borders in terms of opportunities, more responsibilities, and more influence. We live in a very busy society where most people are looking for less to do and more free time. When was the last time we prayed and asked God that He would give us more to do in His kingdom? Concerning David, the inspired writer Luke noted, “He had served the purpose of God in his own generation” (Acts 13:36). Could such a statement be issued at the end of our lives? The Psalmist said, “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me” (Psalm 138:8). In his sermon to the Athenians, Paul noted that men have the responsibility to seek God (Acts 17:27), but let us also remember that God is equally seeking men as well. God is seeking men and women with good and honest hearts—and God is seeking such people who are available. So what might enlarging my border look like in our lives?
· Deciding to use some vacation time or our retirement and go and teach people in a foreign country.
· Deciding to learn a second language so we can be more effective in evangelism.
· Being determined to know my present neighbors and open up my home for hospitality and home bible classes.
· Taking the time to learn how to lead singing, preach, or lead a bible study.
· Deciding to aim at being a deacon or elder.
· Getting involved in the community so I can influence people with the gospel.
Remember what Paul said, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Ephesians 3:20). We tend to forget that present community leaders or popular authors are simply people, just like us. Instead of thinking that we will never have much of an impact upon the world, we need to remind ourselves that Jesus had a far different view of His people, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). We might be tempted to think that a Christian could never be a successful civic leader or run for state or national office, but what about Daniel or Joseph? If an unbeliever, who is without God (Ephesians 2:12), can write a best selling book, then what prevents a Christian who has perfected their skills? When was the last time we pictured ourselves as really making a difference? Just look at what the apostles and early Christians were able to achieve in the first century, and many of them came from the lower classes (Acts 17:6 “These men who have upset the world have come here also”). Do we pray that the gospel message would penetrate borders that seem impregnable? Do we pray that we can drive back the armies of darkness and regain territory that has been lost to Satan?
“Your hand might be with me”
This statement reminds me of a similar attitude we see in Moses, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Exodus 33:15). We see the same attitude in Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it”. It is the realization that without God watching over us we are vulnerable, blind, and no match for temptation. People already understand this principle on a purely human level. When we go to purchase an automobile often we want someone skilled in negotiating with us. There are many things in life that we desire professional help, and do not want to venture into uncharted waters, especially when the stakes are high. Is this the way we look at God? Do we feel an absolute dependence upon Him and are we unwilling to go any further in life unless we know that we are right with Him and that He is with us? It is truly amazing that people who would never think of entering into some serious business matter without expert help and advise will prepare their entire earthly future, including marriage and family, without any assistance from God. There are ventures that all of us would shutter if someone we knew was going to undertake without a lawyer or accountant, yet all men should shutter to select a mate, have a family, or simply navigate life without God! While there are people who are comfortable living without God, this was not true of Jabez and should not be true of us. I don’t want to live without God, I need His guidance, because without Him I am flying completely blind (Psalm 19:7-13).
“That You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me”
From other passages we know that the child of God cannot pray that God would give them an immunity from suffering or inconvenience, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (Matthew 5:11); “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In view of the fact that God answered this prayer, I must conclude that Jabez was not praying for an immunity from temptation, earthly pain, or suffering, but protection from evil. In addition, he may have been praying that God would keep him alive during battle. Jesus noted, “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).
· We need to remember that the more spiritually significant we become, the more we grow and make a determined effort, the more that the devil will try to bring us down. We see this in the life of David, Solomon and Peter. The devil aims “high”. He is after congregations that are growing, after elderships that are faithful and diligent, after deacons, preachers, and every member who is involved in the work. Jabez knew that being different from the world and being godly made him a target. Do we pray for men and women who are giving themselves to the work? Do we realize the pressures that they are under and what is at stake if they fall?
· Jabez did not want to live up to the negative connotation of his name (“pain”, “sorrow”). He knew that he needed God in his life or he might just end up a man of sorrow. Are we afraid of what we might become if God is not with us? Having a name that meant “pain” did not mean that such a name controlled his destiny. People, even relatives, may have given us various hurtful names in life, yet none of that determines who we are and what we become.
· In addition, Jabez realized that in the end only God could protect him. Do we feel this way, that all our efforts to protect ourselves are not enough and that in the end only God can truly protect us? “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com
