The Purpose of Blessings

In my last blog I took a rather hard stance against the purveyors of the prosperity gospel.  Some might ask, and rightly so, if I believe it is wrong to pray for God's blessings.  Of course not.  He desires to hear our petitions for all that we believe we need.  But, my concern is the intent in asking...the reason we pray for those blessings.

It is never wrong to ask for abundance.  But, it can become a stumbling block when that abundance is hoarded or selfishly abused.  Like the fruit tree that will not yield its precious fruit to those in need, the very blessing of its abundance will rot upon the branch and become useless.  Any good farmer that has a fruit tree that will not
yield its fruit knows what to do...it is cut down and cast into the fire (Matt 7:18-20).  It is not enough that we bear fruit...we must learn to share it as the Holy Spirit moves us.

A passage I have heard few sermons on, tells us clearly the purpose of blessing and abundance.  Read 2nd Corinthians 8:1-15...

 "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.  In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they
urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.  So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.  But since
you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you --see that you also excel in this grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.  And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.   Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your
completion of it, according to your means.   For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.  Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that
in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: 'The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.'"

God's blessing is to provide us the means of giving to those in greater need...for the purpose of EQUALITY.

In a democratic capitalist society, I can understand why many pastors would have avoided, or glossed over this passage.  It smacks of communism.  But, is that what Paul was urging?  I think not. The book of Acts adds some more color to this sharing lifestyle Paul was calling for among the Corinthians.

"All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."   Acts 2:44-47

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.   With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.  Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means 'Son of Encouragement') sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the
apostles' feet."  Acts 4:32-37

No one in the Acts passages was commanded to give up their possessions.  They all were motivated by the needs they saw and the compassion of Christ that filled their hearts.  Furthermore, in the 2 Cor 8 passage, there is no hint of welfare, as all were gathering, all were working.

A key component of both the 2 Cor 8 and Acts passages is "love of the brethren".  There was a true sense of family and familial care for each other.  This oneness wasn't simply due to their common allegiance to Jesus.  It was enhanced and strengthened by a shared life.  They met from house to house (note: not all sold their homes...they had to meet somewhere) and broke bread together, daily.

The breaking of bread together, daily, is significant.  Not only was this a shared meal for sustenance, it was the sharing of the Lord's Table, the recognition of the reason for their fellowship to begin with...the love and sacrifice of Jesus. 

A major component of the Lord's Table was the careful and considered reflection upon one's life...sin, issues that separate, wrongs against each other (see 1 Cor 11).  By meeting daily and examining their lives and relationship, sin, and the division it brings, was not given a chance to grow.  It was dealt with daily, not once a month as is the custom in many protestant/evangelical circles.  This is, perhaps, the one thing I miss having left the Roman Catholic church.

There is nothing wrong with praying to God for blessings.  So long as you understand His purpose in blessing you.  It was never to spend it upon yourself. (see Eph 5:1-3)

So, how much is too much?   To what extent are we responsible for "gathering" for our own needs?  At what point do the needs of others become our responsibility?

Not easy questions to answer.  In many cases, you and the Lord alone know the answer to that.  My counsel would be to seek Him daily in prayer...in daily fellowship with your brethren...and in the daily practice of sharing the Lord's Table. I am certain that if you are practicing this kind of life, the Holy Spirit will put His finger on your life's blessings and let you know what you need and what you can be free to give...and where the giving might be best served.

God bless you...so you can know His joy in blessing others.