You’re Not as Blessed as You Think You Are

It’s funny how we’re so quick to slap the word “blessed” on ourselves when good circumstances come into our lives.  As if we really ever took the time to hear what the Bible says about being blessed.  As if we really ever even considered who Jesus says is really blessed.  Start in the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus gives us a list of nine types of people who are blessed –

1 – Blessed are the poor in spirit (humble; cognizant of the fact that they have nothing to offer a holy God)

2 – Blessed are those who mourn (who anguish over their sin; who recognize their brokenness)

3 – Blessed are the meek

4 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

5 – Blessed are the merciful

6 – Blessed are the pure in heart

7 – Blessed are the peacemakers

8 – Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

9 – Blessed are you when people insult you because of Me

Moving on.

Luke 10:23 (Jesus to his disciples): Blessed are the eyes that see what you see

Luke 11:28 Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes

Luke 12:38 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes

John 13:7 – If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them

Romans 4:7 – Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered

Romans 4:7 – Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered

Romans 4:8 – Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him

1 Corinthians 1:5 – You have been so richly blessed in him with readiness of speech and fulness of knowledge

Galatians 3:9 – Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham

Ephesians 1:3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial

James 5:11 – We consider blessed those who have persevered.  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast

1 Peter 3:14 – If you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed

1 Peter 4:14 – If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed

Revelation 20:6 – Blessed are those who have part in the first resurrection

That’s what the Bible says about being blessed.  Read Hebrews 11.  Those Christians who were tortured, sawn in half, sent to wander in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts, of whom the author says the world was not worthy – those people were blessed.  those people mourned their sin; those people thirsted for God; those people obeyed the Word; those endured; persevered under trial; suffered and were insulted for Christ, and if you’re going by the biblical definition of blessing, those people are blessed.

But go ahead, if you want to label yourself blessed for having a car, for having a fun career, for living in a particular country, for having children, for having good health – go ahead and keep on calling yourself blessed.  But realize that what you call “blessed” isn’t what Jesus called blessed. True blessing is when you encounter and act upon anything that draws you closer to Christ.

Be careful of culture.