Articles
Blessed
The following article was written by Dwayne Butler. Dwayne is the pulpit minister for the Lakeside Church of Christ in Hidgen, Arkansas. At a time in which it is easy to complain about our lot in life, or what we want, but do not have, I found it both timely and challenging.
Blessed
The word “blessed” appears some three hundred times in the Bible. Many of those references are used in reference to man. One of the many definitions of the word blessed is “highly favored or fortunate.” We often speak of those who are without as those who are “less fortunate.” It is indeed fair to say that man is blessed every single day that goes by. Have you ever thought about how so?
Many of us own multiple copies of God’s Word, sometimes even owning multiple versions to help us along in our studies. Because of such, it can be easy to take it for granted. But did you know, that if you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed? Why? Because one third of all the world does not have access to even one Bible. We are indeed blessed. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed that the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer that 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. Friends, that list could continue.
But even more importantly, those who wear the name of Christ, are especially blessed, both physically and spiritually. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). I know that often we do not think of physical blessings as spiritual blessings, but the Bible does not always separate the two. For instance, a promise that came from Jesus is if we are faithful, we will not need to worry about food, clothing, or shelter (Matthew 6:25-33). Jesus did not just come to give life, but that we may “have it abundantly” (John 10:10). In Christ, blessings overflow, because the Father who gives all blessings promised special blessings there (James 1:17). We have access to God through prayer. Believe it or not, not every person has that blessing (1 Peter 3:12). We have beautiful fellowship that not all can have (Ephesians 5:11). We have the forgiveness of sins (Romans 4:7). We have help as we fight the temptations of life (Matthew 6:13; James 1:12). But above all things, we have the hope of something better when this life is over (Matthew 25:34). That hope is not given to all, but only to those who are obedient (Hebrews 5:9). Yes indeed, we are blessed!!
