Blessed And Thankful

It is good to be reminded frequently just how blessed Christians really are. Christians are given all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). Likewise, God blesses the faithful with the necessities of this life (Matt. 6:24-34). Above all men, we should be extremely thankful. Sadly though, there are times when we lose sight of our blessings. By so doing, we allow the world to take a toll on us. We must guard our hearts so that we do not fall in love with the world and the things of it. John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Paul warned Timothy, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:9-10). How many people do we know that are experiencing those sorrows because of their desire and lust for more earthly things? Unfortunately, that number could include Christians. Similar to Paul’s warning, James wrote, “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days” (James 5:1-3).

A child of God is supposed to be focused on spiritual things and not physical things. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set you affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3). That means that we are to keep ourselves from becoming so enamored with physical treasures. Our Lord clearly taught, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).

Do I have what I need today? If I do, then I should be thankful because I am truly blessed. Jesus mentioned, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matt. 6:34). Furthermore, Paul wrote, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim. 6:6-8). The same point is also found in the book of Hebrews. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13:5-6). So, let us diligently reflect upon the blessings that we receive, and let us remember to be thankful.

If we are Christians, let us be even more so for the special blessings that we enjoy. In closing, let us follow the command, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thess. 5:18).
~ Corey Barnette