Our perception of what it means to be blessed by God is all out of whack.
I’ve never been a fan of the prosperity gospel which states that God rewards faithful Christians with success, good health and material possessions. I just don’t see it play out in my life nor the lives of those following Jesus Christ in the Bible. When people get sawed in half, boiled alive, cruficied upsidedown and stoned to death for following God (they weren’t just wearing Jesus t-shirts and listening to Christian music) I see little defense for the prosperity gospel. Paul said after he was called by God to be a disciple he worked harder, was beaten more severaly and was exposed to death several times. Definately not the white-picket fence “American Dream” we hope God blesses us with in America.
The cross is dirty, blood stained and sweat soaked. Jesus commands all of us to pick it up and follow him with it. This is where Jesus promises us we will find life to its fullness. Blessing is found in the ache of suffering. Blessing is found in the tears of mourning. Blessing is found in the sores and bruises of persecution. Blessing is found in loving the unlovable, Blessing is found in a heart that has not been overcome by evil. Blessing is found in the frustration of mending broken relationships.
I don’t want success, I want the cross.
Maybe God hasn’t blessed America as much as we think. Many of us are flying through our lives going after things that will never give us life and we mistakenly call those things blessings from God. I don’t think God ever gives blessings that will enslave us, distract us, lead us down wrong paths, take us farther away from God. Sometimes God will give us some sort of success, good health or material possession as a blessing. But the real blessings we rarely consider are those eternal rewards we’ll receive in heaven.
