I read a thought recently that got me thinking about how I often I say out of habit, “I’m blessed.” It is almost a cliche reply many Christians use when people ask, “How are you doing?” The article I read questioned our response in light of Jesus’ definition of being blessed. Consider…
Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account… (Matt 5:3-12)
By Jesus’ definition being blessed means: Poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering for righteousness, being merciful… pure… a peacemaker, being persecuted, being attacked for your faith.
By Jesus’ definition I’m not so sure I am blessed. I (Along with many others) have equated blessings with material things. It is not Biblical or theologically sound to do such. I know I may be splitting hairs, but I want to think as rightly as possible. According to Jesus, I am MOST blessed when I experience the things the world would not describe as being blessed. Which is probably why Paul said he had “learned the secret of being content in every circumstance” he was in.