Blessed Indeed

By Matt Hofeld

Some religions believe in providing a sacrifice or offering at the feet on their god’s in order to receive a financial blessing. They go on living their lives with nothing changed hoping that their god will bless them.

A blessing is the act of one that blesses. In other words in order for you to be blessed their actually has to be someone who blesses you. We can be a blessing to other people and others can be a blessing to us. When you make a sacrifice to a god who does not exist there will be no blessing to receive because there is no one there to give the blessing. Think about it for a minute, does the god you worship bless you?

A blessing by definition is something promoting or contributing to happiness, well-being, or prosperity. God desires only the best for you and that your life be to the fullest (see last week’s devotion). What I am saying is that God wants to bless you and He does not require a deposit or sacrifice in order for Him to do so. All we simply must do is ask. In 1 Chronicles chapter four is the story of a man who desired God’s blessing and got it by asking.

10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10
I would like you to notice two things about this prayer. First, notice that Jabez cried out. He didn’t approach God out of arrogance as if he was owed something, he didn’t approach God as is He were Santa Clause with a wish list. He approached God out of humility knowing that God had the power and ability to bless his life and make it even better than it was. He understood that God was bigger than he was and that the best blessings in life come from Him.

Secondly, notice that he cried out to the God of Israel. There were many gods that were worshipped in that day and the mentioning of the God of Israel is not in reference to just another god. It refers to the God of Israel because He is the God who answered the prayer of Jabez. The author of 1 Chronicles (Jewish tradition holds to Ezra) makes it clear that the only God who is able to supply the needs of his children and bring forth such an abundant blessing it the God of Israel.

Where are you looking for your blessing? Where do you go to try to find fulfillment? As in the day of Jabez there are many gods that are worshipped today, but only one who is able to be the one that blesses.

Look real quick at the very last of the verse.

And God granted his request.