I live a comfortable life.
I'm not rich, not by the American standard anyway, and I am not
homeless, so far. I have a roof over my head, a cozy bed to sleep in, a full pantry, clothes to wear, internet, clean water and a car to get around in. I have family close by and a few friends that I get to interact with each week. I am comfortable. I do have my concerns,
I am still unemployed, I have no reliable income, the pink notices keep piling up and everyday it seems like there is a new & unexpected expense. However, I am comfortable. I may not be able to afford what this culture considers to be essential, but I have family, food, shelter and clothing - everything else is a luxury, a blessing from God. I am comfortable, but am I supposed to be comfortable?
What is the purpose of a blessing? Is a blessing for me to enjoy by myself? Is a blessing supposed to be a sign to others that God loves me so much that He gives me above and beyond what I need, more than others? Is a blessing to be stored, saved or hoarded? Is a blessing to be frivolously spent or used to get or achieve a goal or status? Or, is a blessing a responsibility, an invitation from God to be His servant and distributor? What purpose does God have when He allows someone to have overflowing or abundance in wisdom, understanding, finances, cupboards or success in business? What purpose does God have when He blesses someone with much more than the essentials for life? What does God expect of me when He blesses me with such abundance?
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
(Matthew 25:31-40 ESV)
The blessed (righteous) will feed the hungry & thirsty, treat strangers as friends, provide clothing to the needy and visit (minister to) those who are cast aside. The blessed, because they
love God with all their heart, soul and mind, that drives them to love their neighbor as themselves. The blessings that God bestows on me are not for my own benefit, but for the benefit and encouragement of others. And beyond that, what I do with the blessings God has entrusted me with will be part of the standard He judges me by. I cannot afford to be selfish with the gifts of God. I am compelled by the love and sacrifice of God to give freely to others the blessings that He has given me, or least I should be.
