How Does God Enlarge You?

HOW DOES GOD ENLARGE YOU?

1 Chronicles 4:10 10Jabez 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.

The Hebrew word for "enlarge" is a word about multiplying physical assets.  We find it first in God's command to His creation, "be fruitful and multiply".  It is also translated "increase", "gather much", "heap up", "give more" and "be many".  But in one special use it is the name for a kind of locust.

Jabez asks God to explode his growth.  He says, "God, make my assets multiply like locust.  Let them overrun their accounts.  Let them burst their borders.  Make them grow so much that they can't be contained.  Let them go wild."  That's quite a request.  But Jabez knew that the basis of his request was his willingness to acknowledge both parts of the word "bless" – the gift and the act of bowing down. 

Jabez said, "God, I acknowledge that all favor comes from you.  You are the only source of my prosperity.  And I know that my prosperity means that I submit to you.  I bow my knee in worship.  So, God, make your blessing big.  Give me all you've got for me.

There are obligations in blessings.  Jabez did not waver in asking because He knew God.  Do you know God well enough to boldly ask Him to make your influence like locust?

Remember, with God – all things are possible!