Could you shed some light on a man named Jabez, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 KJV?
Jabez is mentioned only in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, and if his prayer hadn’t been turned into an instant best seller in a book that appeals to our self centered desire for wealth 99.9% of us would never have heard of him.
His name comes from the Hebrew word meaning pain, and he prayed, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” God granted his request.
A Christian writer claimed that this prayer is a formula that will produce similar results for anyone who prays it. Apparently it works, at least it did for the author. Over 1 million copies of the book were sold in a single month, and a whole series of spin-offs has since been published.
The only sure fire formula for prosperity the Bible contains was given by Paul in 2 Cor. 8:7-11 and is largely ignored because it conflicts with our self-centeredness. In the passage Paul explains that prosperity is for the purpose of generosity. The best way to assure it is through the sustained practice of cheerful and generous giving.