The book, “The Prayer of Jabez”, by Dr. Bruce Wilkerson, was released in 2000. It created frenzy and a very lucrative market. Sections of Christian bookstores were predominately full of ornaments, jewlery, and plaques with the words, The Prayer of Jabez, etched and engraved on them. Cups, sculptures, T-shirts, prayer-shawls, and other articles were printed with the same words.
Listening to some “church folk” talk incessantly about the new book sounded like they were disillusioned. They apparently assumed that using Jabez’s prayer as the model for praying for prosperity would in effect guarantee it. But, it did not and cannot for a Biblical reason.
Firstly, let’s consider what God said to Adam in Genesis 3:19 because of his disobedience. The reference is Genesis 3:19, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” This verse denotes “working up a sweat”.
Secondly, let’s consider two references that denote manual labor, i. e. working with the hands:
- Deuteronomy 28:12, “The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.”
- Psalms 90:17, “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.”
The references specify working with the hands: doing something besides praying. Lazy Christians don’t want to hear this; they want prosperity to come easy: no hard work. But, the fact is that it won’t. The fact is massive action equals massive results and no actions equal no results.
The fact that Jabez was a Hebrew and was taught by the high priests from the Torah (the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) tells us that he knew that working with his hands is what God required and would bless. He simply prayed that God would bless his labor. The difference is that too many Christians pray for God’s blessings without being willing to work . . . IT WON’T HAPPEN!
If we want Jabez’s prayer to work for us, we must conform to Psalms 1:1-3 as we say his prayer:
Psalms 1:1-3
- Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
- But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
- He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
If we watch our associates as mentioned in vs. 1, and meditate on God’s Word as said in vs. 2, then we would be comparable to a tree with leaves that won’t wither because of receiving nourishment from its close proximity to a body of water. Then, as we perfect and expand our work we come into our seasons of prosperity. Otherwise, it would invalidate the Bible, which God will not allow: “His Word CANNOT return void”.
Foreign born American citizens migrated from countries that are often poor by our standards. Middle Eastern countries especially are often war torn with their citizens living in perpetual states of poverty and fear. They want to work but the economies are not able to sustain them.
Upon arriving in the United States they see becoming entrepreneurs and hard work as opportunities. They are consequently more willing to work for far less wages than Americans are.
They are so frugal in their spending that it’s not unusual for them to accumulate larger savings than many higher paid Americans do. Whereas Americans complain about foreigners taking jobs, foreigners frequently employ themselves through their own entrepreneurial mind-sets and skills.
God did not rescind the aforementioned Genesis 3:19 judgment He pronounced on humanity because of Adam’s disobedience. After Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, resurrected the third day, and ascended into heaven 40 days later the judgment for hard work is still in effect: by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. Its God’s way or no way.
It will still be in effect during the millennial reign of Jesus when He physically returns to Jerusalem. He will not deviate from His word to accommodate laziness in anyone even if he/she does believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
Working up a sweat is still God’s requirement for acquiring prosperity. The erroneous “name it claim it” doctrine has caused lazy Christians to still be where they were economically before the book, “The Prayer of Jabez”, was published. Sad but true!
