"Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory!" 1 Chronicles 4:10b
Whether or not you have seen the movie Gladiator, you have probably heard the quote, "What you do in life echoes in eternity." This moving quote is a poignant reminder that our lives matter. The choices we make every day and the decisions we make matter. Large or small, mundane or extraordinary, we are making an impact. The question is, what kind of impact are we making? Are we impacting the Kingdom of God or the temporary kingdom of the Earth? This week in our Bible study together, we are looking at the life of a man named Jabez, a man who is briefly mentioned in Scripture, but had a significant impact. What made him stand out, in particular, was the fact that he was a person of prayer. The question we must answer now is, "What did he pray?" As we study this prayer, we must conclude that he prayed for a life of significance. Jabez prayed, "Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory!" In other words, Jabez asked God to make his life significant. He wanted his life to matter. During this time, one's land, or territory, was a large indicator of one's significance and blessing by God. In asking God to expand his territory and bless him, Jabez was praying a bold prayer for God's blessing on his life. He wanted to live a significant life, and he did not shy away from asking for this.
It is important to understand, when thinking about significance that living a life of influence often looks different in God's economy than our own. Jesus Himself said in Matthew 20:26-27, "Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave." You see, to Jesus, a lifestyle of significance involves sacrifice, service, and dedication to His kingdom rather than the kingdom of this world.
What we do in this life matters to God. At the end of the day, with the words we say and the things we do, you and I have the opportunity to have an impact for God and His kingdom that lasts forever and into eternity. May we strive to lead lives of true significance today!
What you do in life, my friend, echoes in eternity, for good or for bad. The question is, what kind of life do you want to live? Do you want to live a life of significance or mundanity? I am willing to bet that you would like to live a life of significance. Take some time to think about what it would look like for you specifically to live a life of significance. Write down what you discover. Then make plans to start living a lifestyle of significance today that impacts eternity for good.
Read Matthew 20:20-28 (NLT)
Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.
She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
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