Genesis 24:1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years. And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis 24:35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become great. He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, camels and donkeys.
Psalms 112:1-3 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Galatians 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
1 Timothy 4:8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
“God blessed Abraham in all things”. Did Abraham have a trial or trouble-free life? No. Did he experience trials of being set on a path toward a place that would be shown to him later? Did he experience trials of not having children? Did he have trials of being in a foreign land? Did he have trials with a wife who was upset and presented him with a difficult choice? Did he have the trials of having to deal with conflict between his herdsmen and that of Lots’? Did he have the trials of being asked to sacrifice his only son? Did he have the trials of hearing bad news? Did he have the trials of going after and rescuing Lot? Did he have the trials of knowing where his nephew lived? Did he have the trials of the destruction of where Lot lived? Did he have the trials of the death of Lot’s wife? Did he have the trials of knowing what Lot’s daughters did? Did he have the trials of the death of His wife? And yet, we are told that God blessed Abraham in all things.
We could talk about expecting blessings while living complacent and neglectful lives for God. We could talk about expecting blessings and willfully living in sin. We could talk about expecting blessings with hate, fear, and anger consuming our thoughts. We could talk about expecting blessings while never giving thought to the needy. We could talk about expecting blessings while greed and pride fill our hearts. We could talk about expecting blessings while spending little to no time in His Word.
We should understand that being blessed by God does not mean we are trouble or trial free, but rather that with God as our refuge, power, strength, hope, and fortress, our reliance on His power, might, love, sovereignty, will and purposes alone, allows room in our heart and mind for these trials and troubles, through faith, to be placed in His hands with a comforting peace that only He can give – blessing upon blessing. Blessed is the man whose heart is fixed on God.
Sometimes we attribute God’s blessing to only material things of this world. This should not be so. God’s spiritual blessing of eternal life far exceeds any worldly comforts God allows or this world has to offer. However, God does give material blessings as He wills. We do well to recognize these blessings and give Him all the glory, honor, and praise for such. Apart from the blessings of eternal life through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, I find no other blessings more excellent than that of knowing Him more and more and being reliantly content in Him.
