God Bless You… (and you didn’t even sneeze!) ~ Every Good and Perfect Gift

Seeing the Hand of the Giver

In a past season of my life, I saw my circumstances as a direct consequence of my actions. Good fortune was a pat on the back I had earned; misfortune was a punishment I deserved. But as I've journeyed down the path Jesus laid for me, my eyes have been opened. Every good thing, from the breathtaking to the barely noticed, is a gift that originates from the loving hand of a generous God.

I have experienced the Giver's hand in blessings both profound and simple. I've witnessed it in the miracle of my own children's births and recoveries, both physical and spiritual, which defied all odds. I have just as surely seen it in the quiet beauty of a sunrise, a simple meal among closest friends, or a moment of perfect peace, pure, unadulterated peace. If you’ve ever felt it, you have recognized “true blessing.”

Mr. Webster defines a blessing as “the act or words of one who blesses, or as something conducive to happiness or welfare. It can also refer to approval, encouragement, or a gift that brings happiness. Additionally, it can be a solemn wish for happiness or a prayer invoking divine favor and grace.”

You know, I'm convinced that now, any time something good happens, it's a gift from God. That idea isn't stuck in one time or culture—it's for everyone, everywhere. Whether we look at stories from the Bible or what's happening today, in our own country or across the globe, we can learn to be more thankful. It helps you realize that the ultimate blessing isn't what you get, but knowing the One who gives it.

Here's the bedrock text, my Scriptural anchor, that I’m using today: James 1:17 "'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."

The Ancient Roots: Blessings in the Biblical World

I present to you, dear reader, three Old Testament Covenantal blessings:

·         The Abrahamic Model (Genesis 12:2-3): "I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed." This introduces the dual concept: we are blessed by God not just for our own sake, but to be a blessing to others. Many stop midway through this transaction, happy to receive but reluctant to transfer it further.

·         Agrarian Blessings (Deuteronomy 28:12): “Yahweh will open to you his good treasure in the sky, to give the rain of your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You will lend to many nations, and you will not borrow.” Fourteen hundred years before Jesus, these blessings were concrete and visible signs of God's favor: bountiful harvests, healthy livestock, fertility, and victory over enemies. They were direct answers to the prayers of a people who were dependent on the land and God's provision for their survival.

·         The Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26): Please analyze the language of this enduring blessing: "Yahweh bless you, and keep you. Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace." This extends beyond the purely material to encompass divine protection, favor (or grace), and holistic well-being (the Hebrew word, "shalom").

The New Testament Spiritual Reframing:

·         Christ’s Radical Redefinition - The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12): Notice the contrast between the Old Testament's material blessings and Jesus' "Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek." This marks a profound shift. Blessing is now defined by one's spiritual state and posture before God, not by earthly comfort or status. This directly introduces the theme of blessing for the downtrodden.

·         The Ultimate Blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3): “'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” This is the pinnacle of blessing—forgiveness, adoption, redemption, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—gifts that are eternal and not contingent on worldly circumstances.

Blessings in Western Civilization: An Abundance Taken for Granted

Allow me to itemize a few of the everyday blessings that are often overlooked in developed nations: political freedom, religious liberty, economic stability, access to clean water and electricity, advanced healthcare, and physical security. Do you think the Creator of the universe heard us when we called out “God Bless America”? How finely has that idea been woven into our national fabric? How gradual was the slope that began with a position of profound gratitude that declined into our current opinion of taking everything for granted? What did we do to think we deserved any of it?

For that answer, please refer back to the Priestly Blessing above and focus on these as the direct, though often unacknowledged, answers to our petitions. He keeps us safe; He is gracious with opportunity; He supplies our peace.

The Blessings of the Elite vs. The Dangers of Affluence:

I think we can all agree that wealthy individuals are considered incredibly fortunate. They have been given influence, luxury, and the power to effect change. However, there is a biblical counterpoint to the previous statement. It's noted in Luke 12:48 that “But he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.” The blessing is that which the affluent receive is tied to an immense responsibility. Such abundance can become a spiritual obstacle, creating self-reliance and a forgetting of God. It may well turn a blessing into a potential curse. Reference the “rich young ruler” in Mark, Chapter 10, a study in priorities.

The Challenge of Perception: 

Exposure to these blessings can often lead to a sense of entitlement rather than genuine gratitude. The challenge for Western Christians is to intentionally “count your blessings,” be grateful, and see the divine hand in the everyday conveniences that much of the remainder of the world passionately prays for.

A Global Perspective: Blessings of the Down-Trodden 

Blessings in Developing Countries:

Allow me to contrast the Western list with the blessings celebrated in much of the rest of the world: rain after a drought, a harvest that will feed the family, a child's recovery from malaria, the gift of a single Bible in their native tongue, a day of peace in a region of conflict. These are blessings that mirror the tangible, survival-oriented blessings of the Old Testament. They foster a more immediate and desperate reliance on God.

The Blessing of Dependence:

Let's return to the beatitudes in the book of Matthew. In what way are “the poor” and “those who hunger and thirst” truly blessed? Could it be that the blessing is their profound dependence on God? When one has nothing else, faith is not an accessory; it's a lifeline. Their abject lack of resources can lead to a richness of spirit that the affluent may never know.

Three Potatoes ~

The sun was a copper coin in a dusty sky, offering no warmth, only a glare on the cracked blacktop of the cul-de-sac. Ellie’s screen door sighed on its hinges. Inside, the pantry shelves were skeletons. Her two children watched from the table, thin as willows, their silence a heavier thing than any cry.

Her own hunger was a dull, familiar ache. Theirs was a fire she had to feed. She knelt in the parched garden, fingers sifting through soil fine as ash, unearthing the last of the potatoes, gnarled as a penitent's knuckles. She found three.

In the kitchen, she washed them with the last of the bottled water, the sound a liquid prayer in the stillness. She sliced them thin, arranging them in the pan like sacred wafers. As they crisped, a meager scent filled the quiet house. It was not a feast, but it was today’s manna, the bread of her own weary body. It was the fierce, unyielding love of a mother, served on a plate against the encroaching dark, a testament of whispered grace in the face of want.

Conclusion: The Giver is Greater than the Gift 

The form of a blessing changes dramatically across time and culture, but the source is constant. Whether it is the spiritual inheritance in Christ or a simple cup of clean water, every good gift comes from God. The greatest blessing is not what God gives, but Who He is. His presence, His love, and His promise of eternal life are the perfect gifts that are available to all, rich or poor, ancient or modern, elite or downtrodden.

I encourage you, dear reader, that the proper response to any blessing is twofold: first, continue to cultivate a heart of deep gratitude; second, to follow the Abrahamic model by using our blessings—whatever they may be—to be a blessing to others, thereby reflecting the generous heart of the Giver.

I can’t tell from here if you are about to sneeze, but… God bless you, just in case.