Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3-5; John 8:1-20
Memory verse: “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.” 1 Chronicles 4:9 (KJV)
A honorable person, from the bible, is a freedom fighter; one who refuses to give excuse nor refuse to fail. It is one who refuses stagnation, oppression, failure or setback. An honorable man is one who does the right thing despite the difficult situation around him. Jabez refused to allow the sorrow he was born in to rob him of his honour.
He was ‘more honourable’ that is why God heard him. God answered him because of his desperate faith. Jabez desperation for change through God is the reason why the bible recorded this short story. The bible concludes the story, “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV)
There was another honorable man in the bible. 2 Kings 5:1 (KJV) tells us, “Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.” Naaman, the Syrian, was also an honorable man because he did not die with his leprosy. Rather, he ventured outside his country in search of change after taking advice from a slave girl.
Honorable people will always get answers to prayers because of their desperate faith. God honors people with desperate faith. Honor is a state of the heart where you refuse to fall or fail nor give excuses. Jabez was tested by being born into sorrow but he fought his way out through God. Naaman too fought his way out of leprosy.
David’s men were honorable men too because they were men who were initially forgotten by society but fought their way out of obscurity into limelight (1 Chronicles 11:21,25). Honorable men are the ones that change things and make things to happen. They never give up. They follow Jesus’ words in Luke 18:1 (KJV), “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Remember, honour is a state of the heart; a heart that never gives up. There is no reason to give up in anything especially now that Jesus is right there in heaven making intercession on our behalf with the Holy Spirit leading us here. Stir up yourself, press till you take hold on God in prayers and the change you desire occurs..
Action Plan: Read the stories of these men again on your own and stir up yourself in prayer against any issue of concern you are almost giving up on. God is waiting for you to call on Him.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu