Should I ask God to make me prosperous as Jabez prayed?

Probably not, if our goal in praying it is to acquire wealth. While the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) has inspired many, it is instructive to note that it is never modeled as a prayer for New Testament believers. Rather, the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were written to Israelites who had returned from Babylonian captivity and needed encouragement to obey God and his law. The Bible portrays Jabez as someone who pursued God’s holy intentions for Israel: occupying Canaan and experiencing God’s physical and material blessings in that land while avoiding the harm and suffering which come from disobedience (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Jabez was “more honorable than his brothers” (4:9), and thus God answered his prayer. Some of us are tempted to recite Jabez’s prayer in a desire to build “bigger barns” for ourselves rather than being “rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21). But God’s intentions for present-day Christians include our willingness to follow him in suffering and sacrifice for the sake of others (2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus never told us to ask for wealth: He tells us to ask for “our daily bread,” or enough to live on (Matthew 6:11; 1 Timothy 6:6-10). Perhaps more appropriate than Jabez’s prayer for Christians today is, “God, help me give generously as you provide more than I need.” Or, “Lord, help me to do kingdom work with the time, talents and treasure you richly provide.” Nor does Jesus teach us that we will never be harmed; he tells us to pray that we won’t be tempted, and to ask for strength in difficult times and deliverance from “the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). Yes, we are called to pray for healing and health, but the Lord’s will is more important than our desires and earthly hopes and sometimes means walking through suffering (1 John 5:14-15; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).