A thought on blessing

Our Community Group met last night as we do every Tuesday. The topic of last night's discussion was centered around the sermon that was preached by a guest pastor by the name of Tom Wood. Unfortunately for David and I, we were teaching the k-3rd grades so we missed the sermon. I hate to even try and summarize since I wasn't present, but Tom had spoken of greed, money, our possessions and of course our sin in relation to it all.

In the middle of the discussion we started talking about how our views of God's blessing in our lives is probably misunderstood and mis-taught. Especially in our country where prosperity abounds and we have much, much more than we need we always seem to equate "good things and circumstances" with God's blessing.

Ok, let's take a step back for a minute and agree on some foundational issues. The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that "the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever". John Piper in his book, Desiring God, flushes out this statement even more by adding that, "the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever". We were made for this. Every fiber in our bodies and every brain cell in our heads was created to bring glory to God. And in bringing Him glory we are completely satisfied and fulfilled because he is fulfilling our purpose for our very existence. Take a hike through the Psalms and experience over and over the language of praise, glory, adoration and love. The relationship between Creator and creation.

And now, in light of our purpose on this earth and God's glory we bring "blessings" back into the equation. We're feeling a little nervous at this point because we are realizing our previous and life-long thoughts may not be entirely correct. Yes, I do believe that God blesses us with things that are good; good jobs, healthy children, nice houses. His word even attests to this:

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17

but we need to be careful to assume that when things aren't "good" that we are no longer being blessed. It may be in those very times of struggle, sadness, hardship that we are being blessed the most. It is usually during our dark days that we call to him, that we realize our deep need for Him, this need that has really been there all along but covered with the clutter of self-reliance.

"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good:teach me your decrees." Psalm 119:67-68

"It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold." Psalm 119:71

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

What a great blessing to experience God as your only hope, your only salvation, your only reality for the very first time. (and then over and over again as you live in Him) This is something no one can take away from you. It is your relationship with Him, your Father, your Creator. What greater blessing could there be?! If we're honest, our money, spouses, children, health could all be gone from us in an instant, but our God is with us always:

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:38,39

Blessings come in many forms but for one purpose:to bring God glory ( which in turn gives us joy and purpose and satisfaction). As Job loses all of his wordly possessions including his children, he speaks the words that our hearts all wish to believe we would speak as well:

"Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!'

10But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips." Job 2:9,10