it is commonly heard, "look at how the Lord has blessed me," as an introduction to a person's story of great prosperity or even favor, but it is looked down upon when a Christian suffers, even when Christians suffer constantly, either because of illness, or bad circumstances at work, unsaved family members, or limited finances.
we are so much like Job's friends, who, instead of thinking that Job was blessed to have been spared from death or that he was blessed by being saved, accused him of deserving every calamity that happened to him.
even when a friend or family member tells us about how God blessed them with health, finances, etc, we so quickly think, "why not me? why hasn't the Lord blessed me?" as if His blessings are limited to the perishable things.
those blessings in actuality will not remain. and although it sounds like a harsh thing, those blessings are the equivalent of a sand particle compared to the ever-lasting blessings such as the fruits of the Spirit and salvation!!
how could we, in our futile minds, forget such a "great a salvation?"
Paul did not have problems remembering the blessings of God upon his life. yes, anyone on the outside could very easily have said that Paul was damned in life as well as in death. even a Christian brother or sister might have easily thought, "the Lord has blessed me so much because i have a roof over my head, food, family, health, and possessions, yet my brother Paul has nothing, not shelter, nor food, nor family, nor health, nor anything he can call his own other than the clothes on his back. i am blessed, but he has been cursed. the Lord has been good to me, but not to my brother Paul."
oh, but we are so wrong. so, so wrong. you see, the Lord doesn't bless in only a certain manner. the Lord's blessings are all around us, in life, even in death, in happiness and in suffering, in peace and in calamity, BUT the true blessing, which not all possess, is salvation and the fruit that it brings, which is where Paul placed all of his confidence in.
you see, where the world might be boasting in God's blessings in the perishable things, those who suffer with Christ can boast in the eternal blessings, those that will not rust, mold, or die.
to desire someone else's life: family, home, possessions, health, etc., is like desiring a cubic zirconium over a diamond. it is easy for us to know the real value of both these items, but why do we struggle so much finding the real value between blessings?
Paul died in the most solitary way. the blessings that he lacked, he never was able to obtain, but the Lord showered him with diamonds of blessings unseen by the naked eye but seen by the spiritual one - salvation, a heart that endured for the sake of his beautiful Lord, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which brought him "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).
this is the real blessing in a person's life. you can "have it all" by american standards, health, 2 1/2 children, a suburb home, a flat screen t.v., but this is all as dung, as Paul would consider it, if one does not possess salvation.
just as those who quickly run to tell others about God's materialistic blessings in their lives, Paul made sure that he quickly spoke of God's eternal blessings through his suffering.
in the same way, we must talk to others about the marvelous way that He has blessed us, through our illness, loss, need, sadness, grief, through everything. we are not to think as Job's friends, who believed he was afflicted because he was not blessed; rather, Job was afflicted because God wanted to bless him, for through Job's suffering, he was able to see God's grace and mercy all the more clearer than those around him that were prosperous.
2 Timothy 1: 8-14
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
