I’m So Blessed! Really? Maybe Not.

This time of the year a lot of people throw around that phrase, “I’m so blessed”! They proclaim a blessing on themselves to their family, their friends, and even, to their co-workers. They answer their phones by saying, “have a blessed day” and plaster social media with their indescribable “blessings”.

Why do these people feel they are so “blessed”. It’s because they have a great job, a nice home, a new car, a wonderful family and friends, good health, (are you getting the drift?) and so on. Because they “have” they are blessed. Since they have been the recipient of all things good, they are blessed. To “have”, means I am “blessed”.

But what about those that don’t have? Does this mean they are not blessed? How about the person who was just notified his job has been eliminated? The couple who has tried for years but cannot conceive? The man or woman who has been told they have cancer and only a few weeks to live? The person who doesn’t have the means to buy a nice car or a new home? Based on this universally accepted definition of being “blessed”, these people are not only void of any blessings, they are cursed.

Where did the idea come from that because we “have” we are blessed? When did we start to equate material possessions as blessings? Many wonderful, Godly people have nothing, while some of the world’s most evil people have everything. Who is “blessed” in that equation?

This false teaching concerning who is blessed, didn’t come from the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew, Jesus was very direct and explicit concerning who is blessed.

“The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, they pure of heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted”. According to Jesus, these are the people who are blessed.

Do you see any material possessions in that list? Any mention of good health, great family and friends, awesome job? No, because Jesus put no value on possessions and things. He never spoke in a positive manner concerning those with great possessions, particularity the rich. He told his followers that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Nearly impossible. His brother James told the rich to weep and wail because of the misery that is coming to them. Not a positive picture for rich people.

So the next time you think you want to be blessed, ask yourself, “Do I wish to be persecuted”? “Do I want to go through situations that will cause me to mourn”? “Am I willing to be meek and poor in spirit”?  “What things in my life need to change for me to be merciful and pure of heart”?

You say you want to be blessed? Truly blessed? It’s not about what you have. It’s about who you are.