Tag Archives: Matthew 5:1-12

What does it mean to say, “I’m blessed?”

 

 

There’s a tendency for us to say, “I’m blessed” when things go our way. Indeed, God is the bestower of many blessings for which we ought to be daily and eternally grateful. But have you noticed how often this little phrase is used to refer primarily to our material blessings?

This new car is such a blessing.

My business was so blessed last year.

We are blessed our house sold quickly.

How blessed we are compared to the poor in the world.

 

It sounds right to respond to good things by saying, “I’m blessed.” Isn’t it the right thing to say?

 

Well, yes and no. It is always good to give thanks for our blessings, to acknowledge God’s goodness to us. But let’s be cautioned. The giving of material gifts is not the exclusive measure of God’s favor. Faithfulness is not defined by the extent we are physically blessed. Now, many faithful do indeed enjoy material blessings and there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, most everyone in the USA is blessed if we to use a comparative measure of wealth.

 

If wealth and health were indicative of God’s blessings, we might ask why so many truly faithful servants suffer with cancer, lose jobs, suffer financially, and lose loved ones too early. And why do those who ignore or raise their fists at God do so well?

 

Scripture does not promise a life of comfort as a payment on our faith. In fact, if we were to read the whole record, we’d find that most of the faithful entered eternity without attaining earthly fortune and usually by means of a tortuous death.

 

So how does Jesus define “blessed”?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Blessed are those who mourn
Blessed are the meek
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
Blessed are the merciful
Blessed are the pure in heart
Blessed are the peacemakers
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

 

Let’s understand that we really ARE blessed and rejoice in that truth! But also let’s understand the nature of those blessings aren’t essentially found in our financial prosperity.
I like the way Scott Dannemiller puts it:

“My blessing is this. I know a God who gives hope to the hopeless. I know a God who loves the unlovable. I know a God who comforts the sorrowful. And I know a God who has planted this same power within me. Within all of us.

And for this blessing, may our response always be,

“I am grateful…Use me.”