Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“I’m Blessed!”
“God’s blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.” – Proverbs 10:22 (MSG)

There are those who see God as the great benevolent giver—whose resources are beyond measure and will bestow all manner of wealth upon us if we would just believe and ask. Indeed, there are those who have benefited from other people’s belief and are enjoying those spoils. But was it God who was the provider of those things or was it more the result of their ability to obtain wealth, even at the expense of those who could not afford it?
Where is Solomon coming from here? Is he strictly speaking in the sense of material wealth? If so, he, more than anyone else prior to himself would have reason to believe his own words. Take a look at what the author of the book of 1st Kings has to say about Solomon’s wealth:
“King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules. Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty.” – 1st Kings 10:23-29

The general consensus is that Solomon’s wealth and wisdom were the direct result of the love and benevolence of God! He was a very “blessed” man to say the least. But upon closer inspection of the verse above from Proverbs, I do not believe this was/is the source of what constitutes God’s giving. Notice that the word “blessing” is singular, not plural—meaning one blessing. I originally thought that this was an “interpreter’s prerogative, but noticed that every other version I checked, save for one, uses the singular, “blessing”, to describe God’s wealth. What then, is this blessing? Do we have it? What does it do?
Is this blessing wisdom? The entire first nine chapters would suggest this is the case. And not just any wisdom mind you, but God’s. The wisdom that created the universe and maintains its order. The wisdom that chooses love over hate—light over darkness. Is this blessing salvation? Redemption? Many examples from Genesis through Revelation would certainly confirm this. God’s “salvation” has been bestowed upon us from the moment man sinned. And it can be provided by God—we cannot save ourselves, which completes the verse, “…nothing we do can improve on God.” But allow me to make this suggestion as to the source of this blessing and I see it as this…GRACE! It is God’s grace that wisdom is given and it certainly as a result of His grace that we are able to experience and receive His Salvation! Paul reminded us of this in his letter to the Ephesians: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:8-10
Grace has indeed “enriched” my life. I did not (and many times do not) deserve His grace but He continues to shower my life with it…and I am “blessed” as a result of it! And since Grace comes from God, nothing I do can improve upon it. It is perfect as it is…and what is better yet, it is eternal. As the songwriter penned, “Heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus, never fail.” Are you experiencing this “blessing” in your life? No earthly riches can compare.
If you agree with this message...respond by saying, "I'm Blessed!"
Pastor J. T. Carnell.