How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He is the Father of blessing. He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him (Ephesians 1:3 Message Bible).
God clearly blesses and wants to bless. He is the ultimate giver. Blessing is vanity if we seek it and not Him. Always remember that God is good and it is good to receive what He has provided for us. But think in terms of tangible and intangible blessings. He blesses us with things that money can buy and He blesses us with things that money can’t buy.
I’m reminded of a man in counseling who was extremely wealthy financially but his statement was fascinating. He said, “I’d give anything to have peace in my marriage, family and in my home.” He had money but was lacking in other areas of blessing, namely intangible blessing. Money can’t buy love, peace, hope, or joy.
Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). I know this is contrary to western culture but it is still true today. If we embrace this truth it will bring great freedom into our lives.
However, the balance is that God does take pleasure in blessing His children (Ps 35:27) and it is His good pleasure to give us His best. Notice Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
As followers of Christ, we “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Seeking God is our motive and not the blessings. We seek “Him” and not “Them.”
Some are more interested in financial wealth and have no desire to accumulate integrity, character, forbearance, morality, ethics, patience and the rest of the fruit of the spirit. God’s blessings are not contrary to values. Values are not contrary to blessings. We shouldn’t think of values verses God’s blessings. We should incorporate handling both values and God’s blessings as part of our responsibility while we are seeking God first. We should handle any tangible and intangible blessings with godly values.
Moreover, we are not of the sect who believes that one can neglect discipline, faithfulness, integrity and character, and then name and claim material blessings. Some believe if you claim money, it will be yours, regardless of your fiber, lack of discipline, faithfulness, integrity and character. This is dangerous error.
I think the Holy Spirit brings us great clarity in 1 Timothy 6:5-10: “These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction; tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, and bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being your self before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's sufficient. But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after” (Message Bible).
Again, God blesses us with things that money can buy and with things that money can’t buy. He blesses us with tangible and intangible blessings. Let’s receive His blessings humbly and graciously. With true heart and pure motives we can say with confidence that we are BLESSED.
Meditate for five minutes on this lesson.
Journal one whole page. Pray for others. Post a thought. Invite someone to church by Facebook or Twitter.
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