How To Bless (1)

What is a blessing?

We often talk about receiving blessings from God, but we rarely talk about blessing others. We are to bless the Lord: “Bless the Lord, O my soul…” (Psa 103:1-2). We are to bless others: “The Lord bless you and keep you…” (Num 6:24-25). We are even to bless our enemies (Matt 5:44). What is that and how do we do it? But first, what is a blessing?

Although various Hebrew and Greek words are used in the Old and New Testaments for the idea of “bless” or “blessing,” the meaning generally falls into two categories. First, and most familiar, is the idea of giving or receiving something good, a favor, or some kind of benefit. And second, and somewhat related to the first, is praise, thanksgiving, or speaking well of someone. They are related because the praise and thanksgiving are often acknowledging a favor or benefit received.

As we will see in future studies, the blessings we receive and give can take many different forms. I don’t just mean they can be a lot of different physical forms. We tend to see and appreciate (and give) physical blessings (gifts, money, houses, jobs, etc.), but blessings take many other forms. But blessings we give and receive can be words, acts of service, help, encouragement, our presence, prayer, Bible study, friendship, etc. Sometimes they will be big things, but most often they will be small, mundane, even unnoticed things.

As Christians, we value spiritual blessings above all other blessings. We “…seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Matt 6:33) which means our treasures are in heaven (Matt 6:19-21) and we intentionally “…seek those things which are above, where Christ is…” (Col 3:1-2). But it is hard living in our physical world to value blessings like forgiveness, Scripture, and worship above worldly things which seem to demand our immediate attention. This is why we must, as the song reminds us, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one…”

Blessings are good things we have received from God and others. There ARE many of them! Blessings are good things we offer to God and others. There ARE many of them too!     dd

“God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.”
Psalm 67:1