THE BLESSING OF THE LORD I
Tags: Gospel, Charity, Giving, Christianity, Christian

THE BLESSING OF THE LORD I

Proverbs 10:22 KJV - The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

The blessing of the Lord is one of those concepts in the Word of God of which more learning and study won’t hurt us. There are quite a few misconceptions about it and blunders have been made because of failure to comprehend it. The blessing of the Lord isn’t riches. The blessing of the Lord certainly isn’t money. Men were blessed ever before money was invented. Being blessed is a state of having that which provokes the bestowal of good; either eternal or temporal.

The blessing of the Lord in this context most certainly applies to the covenantal long-standing blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Hebrew patriarchs, to which all the children of Israel were party. The definite article “the” establishes that a matter already present in the conscience of the reader was being referenced.

The blessing of the Lord makes men rich. It provokes the attraction of material good to a man. This means that the blessing of the Lord isn’t merely words or pronouncements but empowerment and ability. However, the blessing of the Lord isn’t just given to make men rich. Paul talks of the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, Rom 15:29. The fullness of it certainly encompasses much more than riches. The circumference of every spiritual blessing in heavenly places Eph 1:3 is one that no man can fully wrap their minds round in this lifetime. It comprises of not only things that pertain unto life but also godliness 2Pe 1:3. The spiritual benefit is definitely meant to engender piety and godliness but there is also a component of the blessing meant to serve our earthly condition. Paul tells Timothy that godliness is profitable unto all spheres of life and has guarantee both in this life and the afterlife, 1Ti 4:8.

One of the principle benefits of the blessing is that it makes rich. The Hebrew word rendered rich means to accumulate. The blessing of the Lord makes for increase and proliferation. This reality is well acknowledged by many Christians, nevertheless many are yet to even tap into the genesis of it, let alone its exuberance. There’s an overlooked concept in the word of God that bridges this divide and I’m convinced that when we harness it’s essence, we shall have it made. It’s contained in the Scripture below.

Proverbs 26:2 NKJV - Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.

The verse quoted above simply states that as a bird that flutters above and hovers but never lands, so is a curse that is sent to one that doesn’t merit it. Not all men are (or can be) cursed. There’s a conditioning that voids the potency of a curse. So, in the same way that undeserved curses never dock on undeserving ones, blessings will at best hover over but never drop anchor on those who don’t fulfil the conditions that merit them. The question then remains, “What conditions cause the blessing to actualize?”

This leads us to the purpose us to why God causes increase to come upon men. Notice the common thought among the Scriptures below;

Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV - But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 KJV - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

2 Corinthians 4:15 KJV - For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV - And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Ephesians 4:28 KJV - Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

It’s quite easy to notice in the above Scriptures and many other passages not quoted that riches are given chiefly to steer good works prescribed for all that God calls Eph 4:10. Jesus was stripped of all at the cross that we through His poverty might be rich 2Co 8:9. Nonetheless, these riches will seem elusive until we understand their purpose in our hands. The purpose of increase is primarily to finance the work of the Gospel and other charitable deeds. Without this mindset, we could as well cease to cry ourselves hoarse for covenant wealth. Obviously, God gives us riches for our own enjoyment 1Ti 6:17 but we should keep the primary purpose at the nucleus of our endeavors.

Paul states elsewhere that God gives seed to sowers and bread to eaters, 2Co 9:10. When a man is imbued with the mindset and actions of a sower, that is when covenant riches are committed to him by God. Otherwise, there’s a provision where only his needs will be met by God. As long as a man is only an eater, he will get his daily bread and no more but when a man becomes a sower, he attracts kingdom wealth. Graciously, sowers are eaters too and he will have more than enough to live on. David said in the 23rd Psalm, “my cup runneth over.” This “running over” or overflow is the blessing that abounds to us to supply the needs of those apart from our own. The concept is perfectly illuminated in 2Co 9:8.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NET - And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work.

DECLARATION: I’m a sower and not just an eater. Riches abound towards me and I have all good and I abound to every good work, Phi 4:18.