A few years ago, there was a big TO DO about a book called, "The Prayer of Jabez." Turns out there is this one obscure passage in the Old Testament that someone could make a buck or two from. There was this honorable guy named Jabez who asked God to a) "bless him," b) "increase his territory," c) "protect him from evil" and d) "free him from pain."
Now, I know about a book that was written about I, II & III John in the New Testament, but somehow, in my own mind, I think it's pushing the envelope a bit to write a whole book about an unknown who prays a "gimme" prayer to God. Don't we already have enough of that already? Somebody called them "Jesus-We-Jus" prayers...you know..."Jesus, we just ask you for this and Jesus, we just ask you for that..." when all Jesus really wants is for us to pray for ourselves to be open to others...
My biggest concern as a pastor that year was that two men from the Church Council would end up in a fist fight in the parking lot because they prayed the prayer of Jabez and knew that God had granted them a closer parking spot to the Fellowship Hall door...and even though some tout this as a BIG and BOLD prayer to God, I admit that I find myself praying about other things...Why? Well, here goes...
A) I'm already blessed by God before I even ask. That's what God does. I don't have to do anything to be blessed...I just am. Because God does the blessing and God gives the blessing...the joy I have is discovering and discerning that blessing and let it flow in, through and out of me for the sake of the kingdom...which is his, too!
B) I don't need my territory expanded. I have enough of a time taking care of my own home, inside and out and when I gain more possessions, it just means that my insurance payments increase as well! And if this isn't a wrinkle enough, it may mean that I must place a security system to protect that increasing territory or rent a storage shed to keep it all in one place. "How much is enough?" is a question that men will need to ask often this year and the years to come.
C) I think, though, it may be a good thing that I ask God to "protect me from evil." But, when I really ponder my reality, I need to adjust even that request as the problem is far greater than when I pray each Sunday, "save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil." The prayer I like to prayer is..."Lord, save me from myself and protect others from the person I don't want to be..." You see, if Martin Luther was right, then the simul justus et peccator (at the same time saint and sinner!) that is our reality is the thing we should be praying about...to let the waters of our baptism drown daily the "old Adam"...the sinner... so that the "new Adam" ...the saint God calls me to be and the saint God has equipped me to be...can thrive.
D) And oh what life would be like if it were "free of pain." I'd like that but I also don't want to live a life that is numb. I've been quoted many times over the years, "pain is my friend." Not my best friend, but at least a friend I know on a first name basis and sometimes know even where he lives...I've discovered that when I take the posture that pain can be my friend, I'm aware that I'm really alive...and all that is good is without pain and when the pain comes I can even discern if 1) I'm being challenged to grow; or 2) I'm standing in a fire pit and need to run another direction...
All in all, I hope all the men who read this blog will consider what could be great about 2008 and perhaps you can start with the man you see in the mirror each day...created in the image of God to accomplish great things for God...
Here's a prayer that's not found in Bible...it was found in the billfold of Father Mychal Judge, chaplain to the NYFD whose body was brought out dead on a stretcher after the 9/11 attacks...
"Lord, take me where you want me to go;
Let me meet who you want me to meet;
Tell me what you want me to say;
And keep me out of your way."
May your life be a prayer greater than that of Jabez...I look forward to serving with you in the new year of 2008...and will pray that each congregation in our synod seeks to be a blessing to God and the world...remember what we're about...
"Lutheran Men in Mission--Building Men for Christ!"
and in our own part of the ELCA...TELLing synod...
"One man at a time...no man left behind..."
I value your prayer, your partnership and your efforts as seek to strengthen men's ministry...
Brian
