“I woke up in the morning feeling fresh to death. I'm so blessed, yes yes. I went to sleep stressed, woke up refreshed. I'm so blessed, yeah yes. Water in my face and everything is in its place. Peace of mind even my grace. I'm so blessed, yes yes yes.” lyrics from Blessed, by Jill Scott
I was listening to Jonathan Merritt’s Podcast Seekers and Speakers in which he and author Kate Bowler were exploring the word “Blessed.” and the word’s current and often over-use. They zeroed in on social media’s #blessed, and its myriad attributions to things like financial gains, beach vacations, and lattes. In addition, they spoke of the prosperity gospel that is preached from the pulpits of guys like Joel Osteen, where you can live your best life now, and it looks like gain within the constructs of this world—money, jobs, etc. Conversely, they also touched upon the thought that if you don’t have these gains, are you then “not blessed.”? And what it might feel like to see these “blessings” touted in public when you have not acheived that defined occurrence of blessing. As is usually the case with Merritt, it was compelling dialogue.
I’ve come across this “blessedness” on many occasions, particularly within my professional life. I’ve heard companies and Christians talk about how God has blessed their businesses after a good year. Or someone has been blessed with a job. I am confident the words have come out of my mouth as well. But now I’m not so sure if that is a blessing or the effect of a cause—like talent, hard work, a good marketplace, a good story, etc. I understand attributing all things to God, but perhaps these are more “thank yous.” Or maybe even environmental fortunes or effort-induced results. God only knows.
But what did Jesus think about “blessed?” What did it look like in His eyes and heart?
One of the first recorded times that Jesus spoke what might have been a sermon, was when he was on a mountain and talking to a lot of people. Matthew 5 begins with His list of blessings. These seem quite at odds with those often hashtagged.
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
Definitely not about a silky cappuccino or a pair of New Balances.
What He called blessed is about a state of affairs. A way of walking within the world in and among others. An essenced behavior as you live your life in The Spirit. It is a challenge to what our current culture deems good, and uncovers truth behind what it deems bad. It is the ever-motivated pursuit of the love of God and for His creation. Jesus speaks of an interesting paradigm of “blessed”. Something that our world would tell us is not a blessing is indeed so. But it seems as though it’s a delayed blessing, and that we have to wait on our reward. While, this cause and effect approach makes sense, I believe it is much more. Blessing is ever-present and amid it all. It’s the bloodline through the “Blessed ares” and the “for they wills.” It really is a state of affairs—our state amid our affairs alongside our Father. Blessing may simply and majestically God himself.
I’m a dad. I know that my blessings are my children, not what they do, or have, or can give me, but I am blessed with them as themselves, and blessed by their relationship to me. And while I provide, counsel, and support my kids, I believe for each them, my blessing to them is me.
As Jill Scott sings, “Peace of mind even my grace.” Our mind, our love, our grace in this place—wherever or whatever it is. This is where we are blessed, with God, not from Him.