What is our part in discovering the wonderful blessings of God?

By Dean Collins

Have you noticed the number of people around you who say “Bless you” or “Have a blessed day”? For those of us living in the South, there seems to be a lot of blessing going on. Some speak openly about being blessed, while others observe that some people appear to be more blessed than others. 

In current culture, to be blessed can have a lot of different meanings. Webster’s dictionary defines blessing as a prayer, a state of approval, encouragement, and something conducive to happiness. And likely when we hear someone say, “Have a blessed day,” they mean some or all of these things. For some, a blessing is a spiritual thing, and for others, blessing is simply offering a wish or hope that something good will happen in the life of the person they bless.

A psalm of blessing

Psalm 128 is the ninth of 15 psalms quoted or sung by the children of Israel as they made their three annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem to celebrate religious feasts. Some of these psalms spoke of repentance, some were psalms that reminded the religious pilgrims of God’s sovereignty, and others directed the children of Israel to look up and worship their creator. Psalm 128 is a psalm of blessing.

The psalmist opens this psalm declaring that the blessed are those who have awe and respect for God and who choose to walk in his ways.

There are clear promises in Scripture that speak of God providing for our needs, offering protection, help, and strength. But the saints of the Old and New Testaments did not live untouched by the challenges coming from the brokenness of humanity. Being blessed does not mean one’s bank account will be full or we will never get sick, or experience tragedy. What is promised is that God will be near us and with us as we go through our challenges.

Preludes to blessing

Psalm 128 continues by telling the believer, “You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” This blessing connects our physical and mental labor to the blessings that come from God. In other words, it is expected that our work is both a blessing in itself and a pathway to blessings. All the way back to the creation story we learn that God ordained work. God instructed Adam and Eve to work before their fall and again after the fall. Blessings come from our work and from God.

When Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew chapters 5–7, he opened with several descriptions of who and how we are blessed. According to Jesus, we are blessed when we are humble, when we mourn over our sins and the suffering of others, and when we hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God. Jesus didn’t say anything about the blessing of a new car in the garage of the new house. He also gave no promises that his blessings come with easy living: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, when others revile you, persecute you, and say all kind of evil against you falsely because of me.” This isn’t the stuff of polite quips offered at the checkout counter.

Priorities for blessing

Those on their spiritual pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem knew they were seeking to fear God and walk in his ways. When we choose to do the same as we journey through this life, we will discover the blessing of God which includes a rich outpouring of his grace, mercy, love, strength, and even daily provision. God’s blessing, however, does not guarantee that we will become rich and famous. In fact, to pursue those things as our priority will reveal that we chose to walk in our own ways and not according to God’s desire and will for us.

Lord, forgive us for the many ways we twist your words to accommodate our behavior. We do ask for your blessing as we seek to pray and live in such a way that your kingdom would come on earth, and in us as it is in Heaven. Amen.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭128‬:‭1‬-‭6‬; Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭15; 3:23; Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Tony Detroit on Unsplash
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