Today we find many Christian measuring themselves against a secular value system as an indicator of if a brother or sister is blessed..
We live in a world were certain sectors of the "Church" deem material prosperity as the Lord's mandate for all Christians. and part of the salvation benefit package. However before buying into this particular wind of doctrine let us consider God’s Word.
The Bible is the final authority for all truth..!!!
Matt 5:3 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions ) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
Regardless of our ourward conditions?? So reason would tell us , Material abundance is NOT necessarily an indicator of being blessed
Here are some additonal scripture with the same message..
Matt 5:5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions ) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!
Matt 5:8 Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
So what does it truly mean to be blessed.. Well we just read it:
Blessed = (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions)
The promise of GOD is NOT, that HE will make you rich, although HE easily can make you rich if He chooses.
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man's life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.
The promise of GOD is NOT, that you will walk in divine health all the days of your life. Although He can easily heal you if He so Chooses
2 Cor 12:7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh , a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted
The promise of GOD is NOT, that you will never ever have problems in your life, Although He can easily make all your problems disappear if He so chooses.
Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
His promise to us is simply He will never ever leave us, His matchless grace is sufficient for us... when we are well fed or hungry... when we are financially comfortable or living with lack.. When we live in perfect health or suffering with illness...WE CAN (DO) or Endure any situation through CHRIST Who strengthens us..
Phil 4:12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. Phil 4:13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me ; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
With Jesus you can handle anything that life or even Death can throw at you!!!!
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, Rom 8:39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now that defines a truly Blessed Son or Daughter of GOD...!!
