Articles
Blessings From The Lord
We expect great blessings in this life, don’t we? We want blessings of a material nature. Good health, riches, promotions at work, success at school, etc., are all too often, held forth as the results of one’s obedience to God’s word. What can we rightly expect from God in this life? What blessings come to us when we are honestly striving to do what is right?
“As they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob” (Genesis 35:5). The Lord told Jacob to travel to Bethel and build an altar. Jacob told his family to give up the remnants of idolatry; evidently they did so. Then, on their journey, the Lord protected them with a “terror.” Was this a miraculous deliverance? Was it the providential care of God over Jacob and his family? Whatever the explanation, it is clear that the Lord was watching over the activities of this patriarch. Can we expect the same protection today?
Most would admit that God’s providence has helped them through some difficult times. Most can look back and see deliverance when traveling or when sick, or when we have family trouble. But what about the times when devoted Christians prayed for help, only to see a loved one die, or when in traveling, a loved one is killed in an accident? What about the prayers of godly parents for wayward children, children who turned away from the Lord? How do we balance the belief that God cares for His us when we have trials and tribulations?
In the OT, accidents did happen (Numbers 35:22-29). Does this mean God wasn’t watching over Israel? In the NT, Christ says that suffering will come to the faithful. "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12). Persecution will come to the faithful. We will not needlessly seek it out, but it will come when standing for what is right (1 Pet. 3:17; Jn. 15:18-19). We would not expect protection from the very things the Lord said would come to us.
Still, the way of duty is the way of safety (Matthew Henry). Our lives are blessed in the here and now; blessings come from doing what is right. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24). And we have the promise that greater things are in store for us when this life ends. “The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil (Prov.19:23). Qualities of faithfulness lead to the abundant entrance of eternal life (2 Pet. 1:3-11). Be content and thankful for what we have been blessed with. Trust in the Lord; He knows what He is doing; He knows what we need. Be careful: expecting too much from this life can quench our appetites for heaven.
