I hear that bunkhouse gossip is better than an old maids’ convention.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Hickory Jack)
“But steer clear of all these stupid Godless fictions. Take time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.”
“But steer clear of all these stupid Godless fictions. Take time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.”
–1 Timothy 4:7 (Phillips)
——————————-
“They will no longer listen to the truth, but will wander off after man-made fictions.”
–2 Timothy 4:4 (Phillips)
We live in a time when the truth is mocked. However, there is another side of the coin and that is when the truth is distorted, twisted, or turned into “man-made fables.” Paul writes both Timothy and Titus to beware and guard against fables. Peter says that he did not follow “cunningly, devised fables.” Let me give you two definitions:
fable — fictitious tales
fad — an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object’s qualities; a craze.
In Christianity, we have fads and fables. Most of them have some truth in them, but many are subtle and will lead astray into false doctrine. Many times people will focus on the fad rather than the doctrines of the Holy Script. Because they “feel” something strongly they suppose it is from the Holy Spirit. People search for signs and wonders rather than realizing that signs and wonders follow the gospel, not preceding it.
I want to look at one “fad” that went through the church a few years back. It is not quite as popular as it once was, but at one time it was “the thing.” There was a book written in 2000, “The Prayer of Jabez,” and it was based on the following:
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”
–1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
There is quite a bit to this little prayer, but I recall only hearing about the first two parts: “bless me indeed,” and “enlarge my territory” (or borders). Perhaps this has been fulfilled in different ways, for I knew a man who had the nickname “Two-Belts.” (You figure it out.) Before looking at the rest of the prayer, I want to dwell on this portion for a bit. I had more than one person tell me or advise me that they are praying that their territory would be enlarged. Oh, there were all kinds of things they were praying for, but I would usually respond in alarm. “Brother (or Sister) you can’t! That’s the same territory I’m asking the Lord to give me.” Hmmm, they would normally get a puzzled look on their face. Or I might answer, “You can’t pray that. The Bible says that, ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.’ (Exodus 20:17, NKJV) That is my ox and you can’t have it.” Again, the same dumb look would come my way.
I heard very little, actually none, regarding the rest of the prayer: Be with me, keep me from evil, don’t let me cause pain. When you look at that portion of the prayer we can see the teaching of Jesus in them. Lord, keep me! Isn’t that something we should pray? Look at the Psalms and how many times that is implied–Keep me! Then “keep me from evil,” don’t lead me into temptation, don’t let my succumb to my old nature or the evil that is around me. And finally, don’t let me cause pain, sorrow, or suffering needlessly to someone else. I haven’t heard this term in many years, but the Golden Rule: “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31, NKJV) or as Matthew puts it, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (7:12, NKJV)
Folks, we live in a real world, and “True spirituality covers all reality” (Francis Schaeffer) The Holy Spirit is not weird and He does not want us to be foolish. If that prayer has helped you–fine. However, most people I knew that prayed it were coveting something that belonged to someone else. They were greedy, they were self-centered and selfish in their prayer. In saying that, I know, I know for sure, that the Holy Spirit does put a specific scripture on our hearts at times. God granted Jabez a specific request: to enlarge his territory. However, the rest of the prayer is universal: O Lord, keep me, don’t let me fall to temptation, don’t let my deeds hurt others.
One more thought–Jabez’s prayer was answered, not because of the prayer, but because God is sovereign. Remember, that when you pray something specific for yourself.
——————————-
“They will no longer listen to the truth, but will wander off after man-made fictions.”
–2 Timothy 4:4 (Phillips)
We live in a time when the truth is mocked. However, there is another side of the coin and that is when the truth is distorted, twisted, or turned into “man-made fables.” Paul writes both Timothy and Titus to beware and guard against fables. Peter says that he did not follow “cunningly, devised fables.” Let me give you two definitions:
fable — fictitious tales
fad — an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, especially one that is short-lived and without basis in the object’s qualities; a craze.
In Christianity, we have fads and fables. Most of them have some truth in them, but many are subtle and will lead astray into false doctrine. Many times people will focus on the fad rather than the doctrines of the Holy Script. Because they “feel” something strongly they suppose it is from the Holy Spirit. People search for signs and wonders rather than realizing that signs and wonders follow the gospel, not preceding it.
I want to look at one “fad” that went through the church a few years back. It is not quite as popular as it once was, but at one time it was “the thing.” There was a book written in 2000, “The Prayer of Jabez,” and it was based on the following:
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested.”
–1 Chronicles 4:10 (NKJV)
There is quite a bit to this little prayer, but I recall only hearing about the first two parts: “bless me indeed,” and “enlarge my territory” (or borders). Perhaps this has been fulfilled in different ways, for I knew a man who had the nickname “Two-Belts.” (You figure it out.) Before looking at the rest of the prayer, I want to dwell on this portion for a bit. I had more than one person tell me or advise me that they are praying that their territory would be enlarged. Oh, there were all kinds of things they were praying for, but I would usually respond in alarm. “Brother (or Sister) you can’t! That’s the same territory I’m asking the Lord to give me.” Hmmm, they would normally get a puzzled look on their face. Or I might answer, “You can’t pray that. The Bible says that, ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.’ (Exodus 20:17, NKJV) That is my ox and you can’t have it.” Again, the same dumb look would come my way.
I heard very little, actually none, regarding the rest of the prayer: Be with me, keep me from evil, don’t let me cause pain. When you look at that portion of the prayer we can see the teaching of Jesus in them. Lord, keep me! Isn’t that something we should pray? Look at the Psalms and how many times that is implied–Keep me! Then “keep me from evil,” don’t lead me into temptation, don’t let my succumb to my old nature or the evil that is around me. And finally, don’t let me cause pain, sorrow, or suffering needlessly to someone else. I haven’t heard this term in many years, but the Golden Rule: “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31, NKJV) or as Matthew puts it, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (7:12, NKJV)
Folks, we live in a real world, and “True spirituality covers all reality” (Francis Schaeffer) The Holy Spirit is not weird and He does not want us to be foolish. If that prayer has helped you–fine. However, most people I knew that prayed it were coveting something that belonged to someone else. They were greedy, they were self-centered and selfish in their prayer. In saying that, I know, I know for sure, that the Holy Spirit does put a specific scripture on our hearts at times. God granted Jabez a specific request: to enlarge his territory. However, the rest of the prayer is universal: O Lord, keep me, don’t let me fall to temptation, don’t let my deeds hurt others.
One more thought–Jabez’s prayer was answered, not because of the prayer, but because God is sovereign. Remember, that when you pray something specific for yourself.