Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow! God granted him that which he requested.
My God, I will envy no one of his gifts or his graces; much less of his inward disposition or his outward circumstances, if only you will “truly bless me.” I will not be comforted unless you comfort me, nor have any peace but Christ as my peace, nor any rest but the rest which comes from the sweet savor of the sacrifice of Christ. Christ shall be all in all, and none shall be anything to me except Christ himself. Oh, that we might always know that we are not to judge as to the manner of the blessing, but must leave it with God to give us what we should have, not the imaginary blessing, the superficial and apparent blessing, but the true blessing from God!
