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.
I do not think any one can ever prize it too highly, or speak too well of it. What a blessing it is to have comfort of a living room, and the dear relationships that gather around the word “Home,” wife, children, father, brother, and sister! Why, there are no songs in any language that are more full of music than those dedicated to “Mother.” We hear a great deal about the German “Fatherland” - we like the sound. But the word, “Father,” is the whole of it. The word “land” is nothing: the “Father” is key to the music. There are many of us, I hope, blessed with a great many of these relationships. But don’t let us be content to comfort our souls with ties that must some day be severed. Let us ask, that over and above them, may come the real blessing. “I thank you, my God, for my earthly father; but oh, you be my Father, then I will be truly blessed. I thank you, my God, for a mother’s love; but please, you comfort my soul like a mother comforts, then I will be truly blessed. I thank you, Savior, for my marriage relationship; but you be the bridegroom of my soul. I thank you for the tie of brotherhood; but you be my brother born for adversity, bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. The home you have given me I prize, and I thank you for it; but I would rather dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and be a child that never wanders from my Father’s house with its many rooms.” In this way you will be truly blessed. If not living under the fatherly care of the Almighty, even the blessing of a home, with all of its sweet familiar comforts, will not attain the blessing which Jabez desired for himself. But do I speak to anyone here that is separated from their friends and relatives? I know that some of you know of graves, where parts of your heart are buried, and the part that remains is bleeding with many wounds. Oh, that the Lord would truly bless you! Widow, your creator is your husband. Fatherless one, he has said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Oh, to find all your relationships made up in him, then you will be truly blessed! 