Life Lessons – God’s Blessings
Why is the title intriguing? Aren’t people always concerned with bigger, better, and more? Or, do some have an honest lack of understanding about God and His blessings? Is there a way to know we can receive His blessings? The answers to my questions, in order, are:
- Intrigue: It’s about self-interest – not necessarily a bad thing
- Bigger, Better, More: Yes, that describes many (dark side of self-interest)
- Misunderstanding: Yes, it is widespread
- Can we know: Yes!
Life Lessons: Blessings Are Not About YOU!
If we want to receive a blessing, why is it not about us? Because blessings are all about the character and nature of God. What we think of as blessings-to-receive are, in most cases, things He has obligated Himself to do. Said another way, God has made it possible for us to benefit when He keeps His Word. Our wise Father employs our sense of self-interest to encourage us. What is the point of His encouragement?
Life Lessons: It’s Not About Bigger, Better, More
There is a healthy degree self-interest. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
You have not because you ask not.
Our healthy self-interest should take over right there! We should be obedient to the Father and ask! Why? Because our asking Him is His idea. In His wisdom, He uses a healthy self-interest to promote our obedience. Why? Our obedient asking focuses our thoughts and intentions on the One Who knows best to give us what is best. See it clearly. His instruction is for us to ask, trusting Him with the answer. He did not tell us to demand!
There is also an unhealthy degree of self-interest. Scripture also addresses this:
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it upon your pleasures
Our motive matters! What should our motive be? To get the obvious out of the way, we don’t ask so we can have. We don’t yield to Him in obedience so we can get something. It’s true, He does promise to reward our obedience. But our motive is wrapped up in:
- Love for Him (Greatest Commandment)
- Faith in His Promises
- His glory for what He does and provides
Life Lessons: Blessings Are NOT Payment-in-Kind
Is God a debtor to anyone? No. Does He say that giving to the poor among us is the same as lending to Him? Yes. Does He promise to repay in abundance? Yes. Now comes the misunderstanding part. Scripture makes statements like:
With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Even so, there is NO statement that if my gift is money God will give money in return. He may or He may not. What He will give is what is best for Him to give. He will give the best that’s possible and it will come abundance. Why? Because we exercised faith in His promises and faith in His goodness.
So how can we be sure we will receive a blessing from God? We must know what He says, believe what He says, and act on what He says. His blessing will follow and it will always be what is best, not necessarily what we think it ought to be!
Blessings To Be Claimed
Many of you are giving or your time, talents, and treasures to many good things. I am glad. For some of
This Little Guy From Barahona
you, supporting this ministry is part of your giving. I am also glad about that! For others, you’re hesitant to trust and let faith guide you in helping others. May I suggest a small step is better than no step?
This Little Guy is a place you can help. Read about him in the link. ROW’s orphanage in Barahona, Dominican Republic is another place that needs your help. You can help financially and/or you can help with the construction of the new Orphanage Director’s quarters. We need to take a team in early June to do this work. I can’t think of better opportunities to experience the truth God tells us:
- It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Soli Deo Gloria!
