One of my favorite scriptures in Abraham’s story is when God promises to bless him to be a blessing. As we move into this second year of Ministry together, we will be confronted with the truth that our blessings, like Abraham’s, are not just for us but are to be used to bless others. In the opening verses of Genesis 12:1-2, the Lord tells Abram, later to be called Abraham: “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” Notice that God’s promise to Abraham is accompanied by a further explanation. The Lord’s blessing of Abraham is just the first step in God’s divine plan to extend blessing through Abraham to all the peoples of the earth.
No doubt God intended to bless Abraham and his descendants but never meant for his blessing to be exclusive. God’s selection of Abraham and his descendants out of the humanity who had strayed far from Him was a very specific decision. God’s decision to call Abraham and later the setting apart of the nation of Israel was not the end itself, but a means to an end. What am I getting at here? God did not bless Abraham simply to bless Abraham. God did not establish Israel as a nation and bless them with a unique revelation through His word and presence to simply bless Israel. In fact, God has not blessed any of us who are part of His church – and this includes FBK – to simply bless us. God blesses us to be a blessing. Blessings flow from God, but they should never stay with us. They come to us, then are given out through us.
Here are some blessings, to name a few, for us to consider. First, think about comfort (2 Cor 1:3-4), forgiveness (Col 3:13), and love (1John 4:11). We receive these from the Lord so that, in part, we can share them with others. Next, consider justice and charity (Prov 27-28). We are to do good by using the resources and influence that God has granted us, to see justice prevail, and to offer charity to those in need. God’s blessings are not meant to be solely consumed by us. Paul writes, “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor 9:11). A simple definition of generosity is blessing others from the blessings we have received from God. This causes me to wonder something. I wonder, if there might be times when we’re in danger of being so focused on the top line – all good things God has given us – that we have forgotten the bottom line, and the bottom line is this: we have been blessed to be a blessing.
Pastor Dave.
