This is the first time I have written under the Religion topic, and this is more of a question than a comment. I was doing my semi-regular bible reading today and came across the Prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles. I noted it because this prayer became almost an industry at one time, with many books appearing - I did not like the idea at the time- it seemed like more of the "Prosperity Gospel" stuff. As you know, Jabez asked God to enlarge his territory and it is said that God answered his request. Often it is played as though if you ask God for more material wealth He will grant it. That may or may not be true - it sounds a little selfish to me and therefore inconsistent with Jesus. However, Jabez also asks that "Your hand would be with me and keep me from evil that I may not cause pain". It says in the footnotes of a good bible that the name Jabez means "he will cause pain". So I wondered, and am asking any of the many more knowledgeable than I, could it not be that Jabez had always been saddled with this name, that it had been an albatross around his neck and people hated him for it, and could it not be that when he says "enlarge my territory" or "expand my borders" that he just meant "take me beyond the curse of my name and make it so I do not cause pain as the name implies"? What do you think?