1 John 3:17  But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Why do good things happen to people?  That’s not the usual question, is it?  Usually we ask the opposite – why do bad things happen to people?  However, we should be asking the same question of our blessings.  We should be asking why is God blessing us at this time and place.

Before we start asking the question, let’s make sure that we aren’t asking out of guilt.  That isn’t the point.  This isn’t about feeling guilty about our blessings.  It is about using those blessings for the reason they are given.

So, why have you been blessed?  We know that we are given spiritual gifts by God to bless the body of Christ. The Scripture above tells us another reason that we have been blessed: to bless others.  So, are we doing that or are we using our blessing to just bless ourselves?

A final reason we find ourselves in a time of blessing is the same reason that we are sometimes tested – to prepare us for what may come next.  We are told in God’s Word that we should, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3)

Funny thing about blessings… they too are a type of trial.  They tempt us to be apathetic.  They tempt us to trust the blessing rather than God.  They even tempt us to want the blessing instead of God.  So, is it any surprise that we should use our blessings for the same thing that we should use our trials?  We should use them to prepare.  We should be preparing to be God’s clear witnesses.  We should be preparing for times of persecution and discouragement.  We should be preparing for other temptations that wage war on our souls.

So, what are you using your blessings for?  Are you asking the question?  Why have you been blessed?

Something to think about,

Pastor John