BLESSING

Has anyone said to you lately "You are such a blessing"? The dictionary defines blessing as the act of one who blesses. It also says beatify is to make blessedly happy. Think for a minute about the word blessing used as a verb, rather than as a noun. Blessing is an action, one that we should consciously make. The wisdom of blessing implies it is a wise thing to do, but most people are confused about how to bless. If you watched the video at the start of this blog, you heard Baxter Black recognizing how blessed we are as Americans. He also identified some actions taken by our forefathers, our fathers, and our fellow citizens that account for many of our blessings. In the October 2006 edition of this blog I discussed reflection as a means of recognizing your own blessings. I believe this is a key first step to preparing for the task of blessing others.

Blessed means happy. If blessing is the act of one who blesses, then you are to make others happy. When I hear the term, sweet spirit, I think of a kindly Christian woman who in all humbleness delights in serving others. Certainly having a sweet spirit is an important prerequisite to blessing people, but the most important aspect is to have God's perspective of people's happiness. Because of the culture we live in, the wealthy, the famous, and the successful are considered groups that have been blessed. Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus lists some groups that he calls blessed, and the freedoms and fortunes Baxter Black spoke of didn't make the list. The groups He calls blessed are: the poor in spirit, ...those who mourn,...the gentle,...those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,...the merciful,..the pure in heart,...the peacemakers,...and those who have been persecuted. Proverbs 3:13 says "How blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding".

For you to start handing out "happiness" in our modern culture requires teaching what happiness is. Job 5:17 says "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty". Nurturing, comforting, training, ministering, listening, and loving are examples of the blessing you are called to do. All of these deal with what we call problems or needs that people have. The key point is not for you to try to get rid of the problems or needs. The problems may be a divine discipline or reproof. We should never look down on the problems because they are different than the ones we have. We are to support people as they go through their life experience. That is why Matthew 22:37-40 sums up the Old and New Testaments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and foremost commandment. And a second is like it; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets".

Another word that can be used for blessing is serving. Galatians 5:13 says it this way: "For you were called to freedom brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another". Happiness comes from giving not from getting. What seems like happiness from the temporary pleasures of fulfilling what momentarily feels good is a trap. When you start purposely blessing other people you'll begin to see that you're ministering to people who got themselves trapped and are paying the price required, sometimes a very painful price. Or, you may recognize from the reflection of blessings in your own life that focusing on what Baxter Black calls "as good as it gets" instead of other people, is the American trap. With the start of a new year, now is an excellent time to examine how much time and effort you spend on the important task of blessing those around you. In our global environment, there are billions around you. Don't worry about how many there are, just start where you are. God will take it from there. Make Happy New Year a reality to those you're called to serve.