3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

In this last recorded biblical prayer, John is concerned about his friend Gauis’ health. Whether he was in poor health or not we don’t know, but we do know that John loved Gauis (v. 1).  Therefore, he prayed that he would prosper and be in health just as his soul was prospering.

This prayer is much like the prayer of Jabez (1 Chron. 4:10)—for God’s blessing. And I have heard some say that it’s a selfish prayer. They would say something like this: “I will not beg God for His blessing; He will bless me if it pleases Him, but I think it’s wrong to ask for it; I’ll just do the best I can in life and if God wants to bless me that’s up to Him.”

I think that attitude is wrong and even prideful. God does want to bless us and He wants us to ask for it. Where else can we go to be blessed?