"Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, 'Because I bore him with pain.'”

We can start with great pain, but be a blessing.

First, Jabez was an honorable man. He grew up to become a blessing to everyone. He believed and followed God's grace. He loved others and did rightly. He was obedient in the fear of the Lord, and his word could be trusted. He exemplified godliness!

We can be great people ourselves through prayer [John 15:7, 16]. God will change our character for Christ's sake. Seek this blessing for yourself and others.

Secondly, Jabez was born in sorrow. It's the same with us. Just like Jabez came into this pain filled world causing pain, even so, we came in speaking lies and squandering our substance on idolatry! We could have served Christ and helped others, but we were selfish, self centered, and deceived. Titus 3:3, “For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.” We followed the antichrist, and our heroes were ungodly! Oh, the years that we have wasted [Isa 48:18-19]. Oh, what we could have been!

Take heart, however. Just like Jabez, who is now useful… and just like Onesimus… we are now profitable - redeemed from bondage. Philemon 1:11 “Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.” We have a new nature and a new life. We walk in newness by the Spirit. We are a blessing to the earth, having received the blessing of the Spirit [Gen 12:2; Gal 3:14]. We have the power to preach Christ.

Thirdly, just like Jabez ended well, so shall we. The sorrows of earth will be left behind. Soon, we'll enter Paradise to walk with God forever, perfected by His love. 1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.” We’ll see Him face to face, and every pain will be gone. There’ll be nothing but pleasure forever [Rev 21:4]!

Oh, how blessed we are above our neighbors. Look what God has done. Just a small season of resisting sin, and we'll reap forever [Heb 12:2]. Oh, how we ought to love God, more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing—do so even more.” Oh, how we ought to trust Him!