But a person who grew up in poverty, and can only see himself working at a low paying job, struggling to get by month to month, and never being able to get free of his situation, will never be able to experience, let alone create, that kind of wealth. In his limited view of the world, a better life, even one of greater contribution and service, is impossible.

When the Bible tells us, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26), it is saying that with God there are no limits. When we put our faith in Him we see that not only is more possible, but that there is an infinite number of possibilities. The only thing that limits us is what we are able to believe and what we are willing to receive.

If we use the prayer of Jabez in our lives, we should recognize that we are asking God to open our eyes, and enlarge our vision, of what is possible. The abundance that we have in Christ comes from the realization that we are now reconciled with God and through Him we have access to unlimited possibilities.

But simply having access to infinite possibilities won't help us if God's hand isn't with us. Jabez went on to pray, "Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."

As overwhelming as it may seem to recognize that our possibilities are unlimited, and that we may even be able to do harm through some of them, we also need to remember that it is only through God, and the wisdom that He gives us, that we will be able to take advantage of them. Which is why James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

When we come to God in faith, knowing with absolute certainty that God will give us the wisdom we need, suddenly the abundance of infinite possibilities will become the means by which we access God's blessings. What we will find is a greater level of service to others will become clear to us, and as we serve more and more people, God will lift us up and give us greater blessings.

And, yes, that does mean more money as well as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and all of the other non-material blessings He wants us to enjoy.

If we are missing God's abundance it's because we are not open to see all the possibilities that He has for us. As we ask Him to open our eyes so that we can see them, we also need to ask Him for the wisdom to use them in service to others. And if we then act in faith on what God reveals to us, we will understand what Jabez meant when he said to God, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!" (1 Chronicles 4:10), and we will enjoy the abundance of Jabez.

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