The Blessing: Examining the Assumptions & Responsibilities

in #life5 years ago


Challenge Your Assumptions

There are many things God's blessings can do, much more than most of us have been experiencing. We sometimes don’t experience the totality of the blessing because we often have assumptions about it. Assumptions are ideas or opinions we hold about something or someone which we believe to be true even though we haven't subjected it to empirical validation or verification. We hold many assumptions about marriage, church, ministers of God, raising children, life after death, God's judgement, and so on yet several of these assumptions are not true.

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Assumptions about the blessings of God and what the Bible says about them;

That God will bless us the way we expect Him to. In a way, this is true because the expectation of the righteous will not be cut short. However is known to bless us in ways we don't expect (Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think - Ephesians 3:20) For example, Hannah asked for just one son but was given five more children besides Samuel. Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding but was given great riches and wealth as well.

That one can be blessed fully and totally regardless of the connection one has with God and His church. Surely as a child of God, you are entitled but some blessings will elude you if you have selective obedience or a part-time relationship. Without being well connected to the vine, the branch cannot bring forth bountiful fruit. Be well planted in the house of God and stop assuming you will get all the blessings despite your aloofness.

That the blessings of God is always in material possession. He blesses us in both material and immaterial things. To be blessed also means to experience the warmth of God's good pleasure. You may not be wealthy materially or financially but you could be wealthy in immaterial things that money cannot buy like peace, joy, good health (But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth get up and walk!” – Acts 3:6).

That God is sometimes unfair in the way He distributes blessings. Wrong assumption! (O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’ But I judge each of you according to your deeds.” - Ezekiel 33:20). The blessings are given to people according to their faith, not out of partially (And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him - Hebrews 11:6).

That the blessing of God comes from men and not through men. This is why many of us focus on our uncles, dad or our jobs. God however doesn't want you to be hooked on any man. Blessings are not from men but God uses men. It is God who touches the hearts of men. If you focus on people, the best of things in life will never come your way, but if you focus on God, He'll satisfy you with everything (The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever he pleases - Proverbs 21:1).

That if God has promised to bless us all we need to do is just to be expectant without getting involved in making it happen. Unfortunately the greater parts of God's blessings are conditional! They depend on certain requirements that you must perform for it to exist and become a reality (Psalm 1:1-3). There is a “what to do” to make it happen!

That God blesses you strictly for your own good or sole benefit. That's a selfish and incorrect assumption. He blesses you for others, blesses you to be a channel not a container. Whenever there is a supply of abundance you need to ask God what He will have you do for others. I will focus on this point when I round up this post.

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Things to note about "Thou shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2 - And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing)

  • It is a command, an order and not optional. (Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded - Proverbs 13:13)

  • It is a responsibility attached to the privilege of being blessed

  • It is also a condition for more blessings. God doesn't give us all of the blessings at once. He gives you some and watches you closely to see how you use it then He releases more.

  • It is a sure way of getting blessings from others. To multiply your streams of blessings you have to be a blessing.

  • It is in the spirit of Christ (But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His - Romans 8:9).

  • It is one way of avoiding sorrow from the blessings. People assume that there can be no sadness in good things but that's wrong. Good things can bring sorrow (Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit - Proverbs 25:16). Sorrow comes when you don't manage your blessings well. A good wife, or car, or husband, or even a job can bring you sorrow.

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Let's look at the anchor scripture one last time. Genesis 12:1-3; The Lord had said to Abram, “(1) Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. (2) I will make you into a great nation. (3a) I will bless you and make you famous, and (3b) you will be a blessing to others. (4) I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. (5) All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” The first was a commandment that Abraham had to obey in order to release or unlock the four promises and blessings that followed. God blessed Abraham exceedingly and abundantly because he fulfilled his own part which was the prerequisite. To enjoy the best of God, you and I must obey and do our part in order to be able to lay hold on the promised blessings. Shalom!

Cheers and thanks for reading!

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