You Were Born for SignificanceSample

Own It!

There are many who seem to feel bad for God’s blessings and favor on their lives. I remember a pastor who picked me up in his brand-new car. It was beautiful. I could tell he enjoyed it but that he also felt the need to explain how he got it. It was a gift from his congregation. Of course, I celebrated with him, but I also felt bad for him that he felt blessing needed an explanation. Most of us live with a subconscious need to apologize for favor. It’s sad. But until we have an adequate theology of blessing, we will probably continue to do this.

You really never have to apologize for, explain, or feel guilty for favor. If you do, you’ve limited how much God can entrust to you. We often feel the need for explanations because we, as the church, don’t yet have a sound theology for blessing that doesn’t undermine the gospel message of Jesus. Attempts have been made, but to my way of thinking they are mere attempts to legitimize materialism that have failed miserably. We now have another chance. It is essential that we get this figured out without celebrating materialism or legitimizing accusations, suspicions, and jealousies that accompany such journeys as in the past.

Favor on a person is always to draw people to God. Blessings are to be the calling card of God for the lost.

“And yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

—Acts 14:17

Blessings are to be a witness of God’s heart for people. The favor of God on one person’s life is there to make people hungry for more. Jealousy is a cheap counterfeit, and in the end, it undermines the invitation of God for more. When blessings rest upon another person’s life, they should drive us to God. They should drive us to His Word that we might learn how to appropriate His promises more fully into our lives.

He is no respecter of persons. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That means I qualify. By faith, I inherit the promises of God for myself in a given situation.