The requests in Jabez's prayer are asked in accordance to God's will. About the second one - "enlarge my territory".... IMO, what the author tried to get across was that it means asking God to use you to further His Kingdom. To reach other people and "live large" for God.
The other criticism I keep hearing is that the author teaches to recite this prayer by rote, like a chant, and not a heartfelt prayer. Of course this is what pagans do, and it goes against what Jesus said about how to pray. I can't speak for the author, but I don't think that is what he meant. He just stated that he prays the Jabez prayer everyday, and that he has been incredibly blessed in his life.
I liked the book, and despite the controversy, I think its bringing a lot of people to God.... the fact that a Christian book is on top of the best sellers list is a great thing, don't you think?
I think anytime a book is on a list of favorite books that is cataloged by the unsaved world, that is a reason to doubt the book really contains great spiritual uplifting. God's word and the Gospel is an offense to the unsaved. Only the seeking heart will ever get anything of any long term benefit out of a genuinely spiritual book.
What I thought about this article, was it did make the case for a "name-it-and-claim-it" theology, and more than half-way through the article's author calls it almost that, but in the end, she repeats the claim that the man who recites it continues to 'receive blessing'. I cannot deny that a person may receive blessing from prayer, but from a repititious prayer like you yourself pointed out was a pagan practice?
Something doesn't seem right here. Christ's admonition for prayer is clear in the LORD'S PRAYER, the style we are to pray in, what we are to pray for. ALso, in the Sermon on the Mount, we are told to SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and THEN will we get material blessings. There is no mention of a 'magic prayer' like this seems to be, or a chain mail prayer almost, "Just say this prayer and watch your life change/get money/attract friends"...That sounds more like spell casting or some kind of wizardry, make the magic incantation and God will make your dreams come true.
That is the stuff of Genies, not a Holy, Sovereign God. Besides, Solomon asked for just wisdom in how he should judge Israel, not riches or long life, and due to the right heart, God gave him all three. In fact, if Solomon asked for just riches or long life,
the verse in 1 KINGS 3:5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
6 And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
If there ever were times for someone to ask for material things, this sounds like one of them. And, with Solomon's youth, his request for riches or wealth or safety from enemies would be normal for someone who isn't mature enough to think about what to ask God for. I would say he only got riches and honor because he asked for the right thing first and ONLY.
Matthew 6:29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
If we do ask for things that Honor God first, we can expect that prayer to be answered, so Jabez's request had to have more meaning than material goods like you were saying, I am just concerned with those who dont realize that.