Someone posted a link or said they liked a post on line on Facebook. I thought it explored an interesting concept. It discussed a Christian's propensity to refer to everything as a blessing. It was interesting how he described it. Today many Christians say that everything under the sun is a blessing (and before you say anything, I contend that life itself is a blessing). Now I am taking some liberties here, I don't know the author. I don't know his life, so my presumptions are just that. I don't think he was saying we should never count all things from God as a blessing. God himself says we can count all things blessings. Deuteronomy 28:2 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God." What are all the blessings that God promises Israel if they followed him? We discover that later in the chapter. I encourage you to read it.
Several verses in God's word discusses blessings. Proverbs 28:20 "A faithful man will abound with blessings.." Acts 13:34, and Ephesians 1:1-3 which says, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."
I digress... so I read his article and began to reflect upon his words there. I do personally count my house as something God has given me. Some might not count it as a blessing. I can't change their attitude. What matters is what I feel in my heart, and that is where I think we should look. We must look into our heart and discover if we truly do believe all things, good and the seemingly bad, are from God.
When we lose a loved one, we don't see it as a blessing. I don't think any death is a blessing, even when the person is in pain, but where I think the blessing comes into play is our attitude. Do we blame God or do we find strength and in that strength is the blessing? I speak from experience in this. Loss is never a something we call a blessing, but when we rely on God and pray for strength he hears our prayers and gives us peace. That is a blessing.
We were never promised a cake walk when we became Christians. I think its an immature Christian that would ever believe that if you're Christian enough you reap bountiful rewards. No, you might never reap any earthly rewards, but your blessings are in God. You blessings from God are those you love, in your job that requires hours of toil, often back breaking labor, it maybe the fact that you have a piece of bread to eat...
None of us will have the same "blessings" as the next. I have been told many children are a blessing from God, the presumption then is that if you have one, two, or none you somehow have failed in God's favor. This is an unbiblical concept. Yes children are a blessing, but they are just one kind. Good health is a blessing, but its just one of the blessings God may give you. If your home burns down you are not unblessed by God. Your Christianity should never be questioned because of what you have or don't have.
I will continue to say we view being able to work as a blessing. I will continue to say having a home we can come home to a blessing. I've been been through not having a home, so I know having one is a blessing. Even when I didn't have a home, I consider myself blessed. My family was together. God's love and care never left us, even if some thought he did.
Its outlook.... So it becomes more a matter of the state of your heart. This is what I have been reflecting on.
Blessed. Count all things as blessing. The Good, the bad, and the ugly... Christ never said it would be a cake walk, but we have our sights set on something greater.
Very interesting post Kim. There is so much to be said for the way we define and use words. I love that you took the time to ponder all this.
ReplyDeleteI do agree the term "blessing" is thrown around quite a bit, almost like a cliche. The thing that always bothered me was when folks talk about going to church to "get blessed." I always thought it should be the other way around. Shouldn't we be going to church to give blessings rather than receive them? (I Peter 3:8-9). Shouldn't we be going to bless God? I tend to focus more on thankfulness, "In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Not giving thanks for all things but in all things. That's when grace comes and that's the one blessing I treasure most.
I agree. I think some people use the term blessing without really thinking about it, sadly. This last year in our life God has put me in some places where I am truly seeing that his hand is in all things. This is why its a blessing.
DeleteI didn't really go up churched so I don't know much about anything, but I know we can rely and trust in our Father God to keep us, we just have to be content, and have a heart that is at peace. Isn't His sons blood wonderful? That is certainly a blessing, I agree. I think I have mentioned before how we are to give thanks in all things.... rejoice always the Word says. Even in the good, bad, and ugly. :-) Thank you for visiting!