11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.” – Psalm 81:11–12
Blessed.
Everyone is always feeling “blessed.” It captions innumerable photos on social media. It titles sermon series. It seemingly describes all of us in various stages of life. But the biblical understanding of being blessed is different from its current frivolous overuse with a hashtag.
The rise of the prosperity gospel and its conflation with the American dream has led to a hijacking of the biblical concept of being blessed. As a result of this Americanization of Christianity, we often associate God’s blessing with monetary wealth and comfort.
A promotion at work is a blessing. A bonus check is a blessing. More power and influence is a blessing. Comfort and financial stability is a blessing.
Every time we get the new house or car or toy that we want, we think we are blessed.
And certainly, God provides for his people. Examples abound in the Old Testament which convey the idea that God’s blessing includes monetary value. The same God who feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass of the field cares greatly for those who bear his image (Matthew 6:25–34). And in many cases, God gives wealth and possessions and power as a gift (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
But not every instance of monetary wealth and success is a gift from God. Not every one is a blessing. In fact, monetary wealth, comfort, and success may in fact be a sign of God’s wrath.
In the second half of Romans 1, Paul outlines God’s wrath on the wickedness of man. He begins with the sobering words, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (Romans 1:18)
That wrath manifests itself in a surprising way – God gives men the desires of their heart. Unrighteous men, who suppress the truth of God, are given the desires of their hearts as a form of God’s wrath. In the verses that follow, Paul uses the phrase “God gave them up” three times. To the lusts of their hearts. To their dishonorable passions. To a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
To have everything we could ever want does not necessarily mean we are blessed. Instead, it could mean that we have incurred the wrath of God.
In writing to his son in the faith, Paul admonishes Timothy on the dangers of man’s desire for money. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:9–10)
That desire to be rich – that love for money and possessions and wealth and comfort and influence – distracts us from the ultimate treasure in this life: the presence of God.
The man who is comfortable in this life has little opportunity for intimacy with the One who provides comfort in times of pain. The man who is rich in this life has little opportunity to experience the riches of God’s provision in times of need. The man who is powerful in this life has little opportunity to witness the miraculous work of the omnipotent God.
What the world perceives to be the high points in life frequently turn out to be the times we drift furthest from God. Meanwhile, it is in the valleys of our lives that our relationship with God flourishes. We are often most blessed by the presence of God during those difficulties.
Having money or comfort is not wrong or sinful; in many cases, they are gifts from God. But when those things become consuming, they distract us from our relationship with Christ. In those cases, to receive a promotion or to have excessive financial stability is not a blessing, but a curse.
God pours out his wrath in a variety of ways; oftentimes, in 21st century America, it is without us even realizing it. As we accumulate more and more money and wealth, we see the need to rely on God depreciate accordingly.
It means so much more to truly be #blessed.
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