Have you ever felt like a nobody, insignificant and overlooked? Or maybe you’ve struggled to find your place in the world or to make a meaningful impact. If so, you’re not alone. The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people who rose to prominence through the intervention of God.
God didn’t create you to be a nonentity; he has a purpose for your creation, when you read the book of (Psalm 139) you will discover that you are beautifully made to do exploit. Also, as we have read in the book of (Genesis 1) we are created in God’s image; so why should an image of our God be a nonentity? There are some prophets in the bible who rose from a NOBODY to SOMEBODY, (1 Samuel 16) We can see how God transform David a common shepherd from nobody to somebody. He was anointed as a King over the country of Israel. (Esther 1) God raise Esther from an ordinary woman and become a queen in a palace. In (2 Samuel 9), Mephibosheth, a lame man, who become a King’s favourite dinning partner.
In understanding the sentence “Nonentity to Celebrity” I will use one person as an example to what God can do in just a second of a time, and that One person is Jabez. Jabez a man who is mentioned in just two verses in the Bible (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Yet, his story is a powerful reminder that God can take anyone from obscurity to prominence.
The name Jabez means “sorrow” because he was born in pain; have you wondered how someone will give birth to a child and named him ‘sorrow’. If you read the book of (1 chronicle 1 to 4) before Jabez name was mentioned, you will discover that the chapters were only talking about birth and death till he gets to Jabez. Jabez knew what is in to after seeing all his brethren what they went through; he(Jabez) knew that the only person who can save him from not end up the way of his brothers and take him from obscurity to prominence is GOD.
What lesson can we learn from the story of Jabez:
- The power of prayer: Jabez’s story shows us the power of prayer in transforming our lives. Jabez knew that he needs to have a conversation with GOD to change his current situation; When we pray, we invite God to work in our lives and to bless us. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) tells and remind us that we have to pray to GOD always, without prayer Jabez can not receive his miracle. When we pray to him, he will surely answer us.
- Faith and trust: Jabez’s prayer reveals his faith and trust in God. He believed that God could bless him and expand his territory. You need to have faith and trust God in all our entirety of life, he didn’t fail Jabez he will never fail you.
TAKE HOME
Jabez’s story begins with a simple prayer like our father in the lord (Pst E.A Adeboye) will say. According to that (1 Chronicles 4:10), Jabez cried out to God, saying, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” This prayer may seem simple, but it reveals a deep desire to be blessed and used by God.
As a result of his prayer, Jabez’s life was transformed. The Bible says that God granted his request and blessed him (1 Chronicles 4:10). Jabez’s territory was expanded, and he became an honourable man and prominent leader in his community.
Jabez’s story teaches us that God is willing to take ordinary people and make them extraordinary. He can take us from obscurity to prominence, from being nobodies to being somebodies, from nonentity to celebrity. don’t be discouraged if you feel like a nobody today. Remember Jabez’s story, and know that God can make you somebody special today just pray to God.
