All Good From God
The language of “blessing” has fallen out of popular usage. We tend to use terms like “human flourishing” or even “luck” to describe when a person receives good things. However, scripture is clear that every good thing is a blessing from God.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
Not only that, but we know that we get blessings even though we don’t deserve it. God even does good for those who hate him.
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Matthew 5:44-45
Blessing Repellent
Even though God gives good to all more than we deserve, we still do not live in a world without consequences. There is a way to court disaster and a way that God has promised to bless.
Blessed is the man
Psalm 1:1
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Life can be confusing and everyone needs advice from others from time to time. However, we’d be better off without advice than trusting bad advice! The wicked will give such advice because they understand the world in opposition to God. They’re directing you away from the very one from whom comes every good thing!
Additionally, sins can often cause calamity. To stand in the way of a sinner is to live a life for the desires of our flesh. When we place our lives on a path that leads to sin we will reap the consequences of that sin. The final wages of sin is death. Along the way, there is nothing be destruction.
Scoffers are those who would are characterized by their mockery. They are the very worst of armchair critics. Instead of living a life of faith, they deride those who do from the sidelines. Instead of recognizing the goodness of God, they would be content to sit and tease those who do.
Whether trusting in godless instruction, setting oneself to sin, or mocking those who have set themselves as servants of God, it is only those who avoid such things that avoid the hardships that come from the godless life.
God’s Commands
If the wisdom of the world leads us away from blessing, where can we find instruction that leads in the right direction? Thanks be to God that he not only blesses those who pursue him but has provided guidance along the way!
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
Psalm 1:2
and on his law he meditates day and night.
If we want good for ourselves, our families, our nation, and all of mankind, we can do no better than to seek to understand the will of God according to his revelation. But even that understanding is no benefit if we do not apply that understanding.
God is the creator not only of men, but of families(Ephesians 3:15), governments(Romans 13:1-2), and the whole world. He knows how everything works best. To not follow God’s ways at any level is to invite evil. While the wicked of the world have all sorts of advice on how to lead a family, a nation, or even how to “save the planet” that advice will only lead to more calamity.
Trust God and his ways. Encourage others to the same. Insist upon God’s way so much as it depends upon you. Only those who do this are rightly seeking good for both themselves and all of mankind.
