CHILDISH PRAYERS

It took the nation and parts of the world by storm. How is it that such a tiny and seemingly insignificant book can become a top seller reaching the hands and eyes of millions of people in such a short period of time? The “Prayer of Jabez” struck a chord in the hearts and minds of religious and non-religious people alike.

Based on the rather obscure and little known prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4, the book by Bruce Wilkinson expands on a prayer that pictures God as a loving and benevolent giver of blessings…who wouldn’t want to read about this? The fact that the text assures us that God answered and granted the requests of Jabez is overwhelmingly moving. So convincing is Wilkinson’s book that people of all backgrounds and perspectives began praying this mighty prayer in hopes of great and abundant blessings.

But, do we really find in the prayer of Jabez a model for our own prayer life? On the contrary, could it be that at least one reason why the “Prayer of Jabez” was so successful is that it was a most fitting appetizer for the self-centered and materialistic appetite that is so rampant in our current society? I mean not to minimize or demean the sincere prayer of Jabez, apparently a man of faith, but rather to highlight the difference between a prayer born of a heart of worship and sincerity and a prayer born of a heart of materialism and discontent.

We would do well to understand the difference between statements that are descriptive and those which are prescriptive in Scripture. Those passages which are descriptive in nature; although inspired and important are not necessarily intended as directives or prescribed commands. On the other hand, there are numerous prescriptive statements throughout scripture intended for the sole purpose of obedience and conformity. Such is what we find in Matt 6:9, “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” (NASB95) [1] This is not the only place in Scripture where Christ commands His followers to pray, but it is the most explicit regarding the manner in which His followers are to pray. It is clear from the first statements of Christ that right thinking about God is of utmost importance regarding our prayer life.

Although already alluded to in the earlier comments of Jesus, we are here given a most humbling and encouraging command to approach God as Father, or in other words, to view prayer through a paternal perspective. Nevertheless, knowing the needs and failings of humanity, He follows this paternal perspective with a providential perspective reminding us that our “Father” is in Heaven; a fact that must be painfully clear in the minds of all who seek to approach the Father. The marriage of these great and sobering facts is one most important to the lives of His children. On the one hand, if it were only a Father whom we prayed to, no doubt we would find ourselves as bratty children approaching Him as one who owes you, and who should respond according to our bidding each time we ask. On the other hand, if it were merely a transcendent God of Heaven to whom we prayed, we would find ourselves alone, comfortless, and as abandoned orphans begging for some invisible hand of kindness to reveal itself.

Yet, here in this single and most majestic phrase, we find a marriage of warm intimacy and woeful intimidation, personal relationship and perfect righteousness, immanence and transcendence …all at once we approach our loving Father and heavenly Sovereign….such is beyond comprehension. It is in this inseparable union of Father and Sovereign that we have the privilege to approach, knowing first that we speak to one who is caring and secondly to one who is capable...first to one who knows me and secondly to one who created me.

No matter the destination of our prayer, let us make sure we begin such a journey with a sincere acknowledgment of His ownership of all we are as His children and His authorship of all we are as His creation. It is then and only then that we truly begin to pray in a manner that reflects worshipful and God-glorifying hearts.

[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.