SEEKING GOD’S BLESSING
“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” I Chronicles 4:10
Is it wrong to seek God’s blessings? Should we feel guilty praying, “God, bless me”? Jabez prayed that God would “bless me indeed.” Should we consider it selfish to ask God to bless us? That might depend on why we are seeking His blessing. Are we seeking His blessings for selfish reasons or honorable reasons? Do we want His blessings for our sake or for His name’s sake?
If our motivation for wanting to be blessed were entirely for our personal gain, comfort, or pleasure, then it would definitely not be the best reason to ask. James teaches us that if you request things “that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3), you are asking amiss, and therefore, those prayers may go unanswered. However, if our prayers for God’s blessings spring from a desire to please Him and from a goal to honor Him, then we have every reason to seek God’s blessing.
We need God’s blessing. We need His power, wisdom, peace, strength, etc. We should not ask for His blessings for carnal ambitions; we need His help for things that relate to His work and His glory. We cannot do what we need to do without Him. We cannot be what He would have us be without the resources He has promised to supply.
It is not only acceptable to seek His blessing, it is commendable. In the Bible, people were given spiritual power because they asked for it. They were given strength and wisdom as a direct answer to their prayers. God supplied financial needs through their faith and prayers. Jabez called on God for His blessing; and the text says, “God granted him that which he requested.” When Jacob wrestled with the angel and refused to let him go until He blessed him, the result was a transformation in Jacob’s life. When Solomon pleaded with God for an understanding heart, God was pleased to bless His servant with what he needed.
In our hearts, our homes, and our churches, we need God’s blessings. Without His blessings, we will never be successful in fulfilling His will.