Posted: 28 September 2026

From a sermon given on 27 September 2026:

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)

Hard work has its place, but human effort alone cannot explain every fruitful outcome. Jabez did not merely ask for greater territory; he asked for God's hand to be with him. There is a difference between working with our own strength and working under divine favour. The same hands can labour on the same task, yet the results can be completely different when God's hand rests upon the work.

We often measure success by effort, hours, intelligence, connections, and resources. Yet Scripture repeatedly reminds us that blessing ultimately comes from God. His hand can open doors that effort cannot open, establish what appears fragile, and multiply what seems insufficient. It is not always how hard you work; it is whose hand is upon what you work.

Therefore, do not only pray for strength to work - pray for God's hand upon your work. Let your plans, business, profession, ministry, family, and daily responsibilities be placed under His direction. When His hand is upon your work, your labour becomes more than human effort; it becomes an instrument through which His purposes are accomplished. Work diligently, but never work as though you are working without God.

Further readings:

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.
(Psalm 90:17)

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
(Proverbs 16:3)

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
(Zechariah 4:6)