How to Live a Life of Significance

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 I read, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers . . . Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘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.’ And God granted his request." (NIV)

Everyone is designed for excellence. I may feel ordinary, but God created me to live a life of significance.

The Bible is filled with ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives because they believed God would work in and through them. They believed God made them for a purpose and intended for them to successfully fulfill their mission.

One example is a man named Jabez. God gave him an honorable mention in 1 Chronicles, a Bible book that includes nine chapters of genealogies. Right in the middle of that long list of names, God singles out Jabez, an ordinary guy, in two verses.

The Bible says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers . . . Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘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.’ And God granted his request” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NIV).

Those two verses give all the information we have about Jabez, but they reveal that he lived a life that was anything but average.

Jabez stands out because of three secrets to his success. We’ll look at the first two today.

He had great ambition. While many people are content with being average, Jabez wanted God to do something significant through him. He didn’t want to live half-heartedly; he wanted a full and meaningful life.

Jabez was ambitious, but, just as importantly, he was motivated by the right things. How do we know Jabez’s motives were genuine and not selfish? Because we read, “And God granted his request.” God will never honor an unworthy request.

Many people just drift through life. They have no goals, no master plan, and no overall purpose. As a result, they never go anywhere. If I want to live above average, dream big! I’m not meant to go through life wondering, “What am I doing? Where am I going?” God wants me to have a great ambition, fueled by the desire to serve him.

He had a growing faith. Jabez had a deep trust and belief in God. There’s no mention of him having any special ability or talent. The Bible doesn’t say he was wealthy or educated. He was just a common man with an uncommon faith.

There is something in life that is more important than ability and talent. It’s faith. Faith is believing God will work through me.

How do you break out of mediocrity? Like Jabez, I need to have a great ambition and a growing faith, and dependence on God to do the impossible. Missionary William Carey once said, “Attempt great things for God and then expect great things from God.”

Tomorrow we’ll look at the third secret that made Jabez really stand out: his genuine prayer life.  

In summary, everyone is designed for excellence. I may feel ordinary, but God created me to live a life of significance. The Bible is filled with ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives because they believed God would work in and through them. They believed God made them for a purpose and intended for them to successfully fulfill their mission. One example is a man named Jabez. “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers . . . Jabez cried out that God would bless him and enlarge his territory! Let God’s hand be with him, and keep him from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request." In fact God gave him an honorable mention in 1 Chronicles, God singles out Jabez, an ordinary guy, in two verses. Those two verses give all the information we have about Jabez, but they reveal that he lived a life that was anything but average. Jabez stands out because He had great ambition. While many are content with being average, Jabez wanted God to do something significant through him. He wanted a full and meaningful life. Jabez was ambitious, motivated by the right things. How do I know Jabez’s motives were genuine and not selfish? Because I read that God granted his request. God will never honor an unworthy request. Many will just drift through life. They have no goals, no master plan, and no overall purpose. As a result, they never go anywhere. If I want to live above average, dream big, God wants me to have a great ambition, fueled by the desire to serve him. Jabez had a growing faith and a deep trust and belief in God. There’s no mention of him having any special ability or talent. He was just a common man with an uncommon faith.  In life there is something more important than ability and talent. It’s faith. Faith is believing God will work through me. Like Jabez, I need to have a great ambition, growing faith, and dependence on God to do the impossible. 

Jabez is remembered for a prayer request rather than a heroic act. In his prayer, he asked God to bless him, help him work, be with him in all he did and keep him from trouble and pain. Jabez acknowledged God as the true center of his life. When I pray for God's blessing, I should also pray that he will take his rightful position as Lord over my work, family and recreation. Obeying him in daily responsibilities is heroic living.  I live in a fallen world filled with sin, and it is important to ask God to keep me safe from the unavoidable evil that comes my way. But I must also avoid evil motives, desires, and actions that begin within me. Therefore, not only must I seek God's protection from evil, but I must also ask God to guard my thoughts and actions. I can begin to utilize his protection by filling my mind with positive thoughts and attitudes. 

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.