Sunday, February 17, 2008

The Prayer of Jabez

Dear Berit,

My wife recently attended your Sunday School conference presentation and just e-mailed me your WEB site URL. It looks great, at least the article on “The Prayer of Jabez” (http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/Jabez.htm), this is the only one I have had a chance to read, and that only briefly. I can’t understand why “Christians” don’t realize that this is just a take off on the “prosperity” gospel.

However, while I think that your article is great, I believe that the Bible implies the reason for his protection and blessing.

1 Chr 2:55 And the families of scribes who lived at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. Those are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

In answer to Jabez’s “honorable” prayer, God apparently enlarged his borders and protected him from harm as he wrestled, “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

For Jabez founded a city, a city of scribes who would forge the weapon that would ultimately destroy “the prince of the power of the air”…They forged THE WORD OF GOD!

Christian

PS:

My wife indicates that you also share my concerns about Tolkien and his best friend.

Just “Once”

Should a friend ever disclose the intent to do something just “once,” perhaps involving drinking, smoking, drugs, or things of a sexual nature, please discourage the thought that it can be done but once. The second time is always easier, and the third, easier still!

Remind them of the snare of wine:
”Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder” (Proverbs 23:29-32).

But be forewarned that Scripture seems to “encourage” strong drink: for those who are “ready to perish,” and for those who are “appointed to destruction.”

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction” (Proverbs 31:6-8).