by Rose Murdock

God is a God who blesses His people.  We need to understand that.  It is His nature to bless us.  God’s plan in the beginning was for man to be blessed in the Garden of Eden.  He provided everything man needed.  Everything He made was good.  He wanted His people to live life with good things to enjoy.

I think a lot of people miss out on many of the blessings God wants them to have because they don’t believe God wants to bless them.  Sometimes it’s easier to believe God wants to bless others than it is to believe He’ll bless you.  God wants to bless you!

Proverbs 10:22 says, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

The word ‘blessing’ in this particular verse according to Strong’s Concordance means, ‘blessing, prosperity, praise of God, a gift and a treaty of peace.’  Who do you think the Lord wants to give this kind of blessing to?  He wants to give it to His children.  He wants to give it to you.  And when He blesses you with His blessing it makes you rich.  The word ‘rich’ means ‘rich’.  The blessing of the Lord makes you wealthy.  There’s no way around it, it’s talking about riches and wealth here.  You could say it this way, ‘The blessing, prosperity, praise, gift and peace of God makes one rich, enriched and wealthy.’

When the Lord blesses you in this way, the riches and wealth you receive have no sorrow attached to them.  There is no sorrow, pain, hardship or toil added to it.  The blessing of the Lord is a true blessing that does not bring hardship along with it.

Whatever your situation in life is, as the Lord blesses you, it will prosper you and it won’t be burdensome to you.  God doesn’t give us a blessing and attach a curse along with it.  His blessings are true blessings.  It’s God’s nature to want to bless us in this way.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Ephesians 1:3

He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.  One might say, ‘well there you go, this verse says we’re blessed with spiritual blessings not with material blessings.’  But remember it’s the blessing of the Lord that makes rich so if we’re blessed with spiritual blessings those blessings will bring the material blessings.

God is not worried about riches making us prideful, arrogant, greedy or anything like that.  God believes that we will do with our money and wealth what He intends for us to do.  God is love and love believes the best of everyone.  If we’re faithful to tithe and give to others and be a blessing to others when we only have a little bit of money, than we’ll be faithful to do the same thing when we have a lot.  If we don’t, it’s not the money that corrupted us, it was the motives of our heart that were there all along!  It’s the love of money that is the root of all evil, not money itself (1 Timothy 6:10).

God wants us to be blessed financially for two reasons.  One is so we can accomplish His plan for our lives.

"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:18

He wants us to prosper so we can establish his covenant in the earth.  He wants us to carry out His plan and purpose for Him.  He also loves us and wants us to enjoy good things.

"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;" 1 Timothy 6:17.

God gives us richly all things to enjoy.  We’re not to trust in riches or in the uncertainty of riches, but we’re to trust in Him who richly gives all things for us to enjoy.  That is the nature and character of God—to bless His people.

"…the upright shall have good things in possession." Proverbs 28:10

Know that God desires for His children to have good things.  If you’re afraid of having riches and what they might do to you then know that not having them is not the answer.  That is just avoiding the issue.  The answer is to renew your mind with God’s Word so you will do with your money and possessions what He wants you to do no matter how much you have.  Remember these three things:

• We have work to do for the Kingdom of God and it takes money to do it.

• We are an example to the world of how God treats those who trust in Him and His blessing should be evident in our lives.

• God loves us and wants us to enjoy good things.

Don’t think you’re being humble by not receiving all the good things God has for you.  God wants to bless you!

"I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures." Proverbs 8:20-21

Go to the crossword for this teaching