Do you feel jealous or envious when you see your neighbour being blessed and wish you were the one celebrated and not them? Listen, when God blesses your neighbour, rejoice because God is in the neighbourhood- God has visited his people, and you may be the next to be blessed!
Generally, when we receive visitors, we focus on what to give them to make them comfortable and feel welcome. But when God visits his people, the opposite is the case: what we offer to God does not matter but what God wants to offer is important! Instead of worrying when your blessing shall manifest or disturbed on what to do or what to offer in order to be blessed, focus rather on the Lord, because He has much to say to you. If you want to know how to be blessed when others are blessed, read slowly…
Luke 10:38-42
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. The Better Part- Word of God:
Just as we know, the world is guided by principles, the principles you know determines what you get! The Word of God is the first principle- the Principle of all principles! (Cf Gen 1:1; John 1:1). It should NEVER be taken away from you! The enemy knows this and is always concerned about what God has said so as to distort it and use it as tool for temptation, deception and manipulation. Strive to know the Word of God and make it part and parcel of your daily life.
2. You worry about many things:
Whenever others are blessed, what comes to your mind? Are you worried when yours shall be? Are you envious and wish you were celebrated instead? Are you eager to know how the blessing came about? Or you are eager to “tap into” (partake) of the blessings of others? Everyone likes to be celebrated, but many forget that behind every SUCCESS is HARD WORK, and beneath every GRACE is DISPOSITION, and behind every BLESSING is AVAILABILITY. Abraham expressed deep faith in God by hoping against hope, and God counted it as righteousness, and blessed him. Can we do what it takes to wait on the Lord for His blessings.
3. God is in your neighbourhood:
Many have been richly blessed or rewarded because of some acts of kindness they offered to others without paying attention. So also many have lost huge opportunities due to lack of kindness. Abraham’s act of kindness and hospitality to the ‘three strangers’ in Genesis 18 was rewarded with a blessing of a son- something he has been praying for:
‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’ (Gen 18:10)
If there’s something God DOES NOT REMEMBER it is our sins (Cf. Ps 103:12, Heb 8:12), but God REMEMBERS and rewards acts of charity, sacrifices and kindness. And these actions cancels many sins (1 Pet 4:8) and plead for our blessing (Ps 20:3).
TASK
Reach out to someone today with an act of kindness: help them get some tasks done, tell them kind words and put a smile on their face. Be happy and rejoice with anyone whom God has blessed. Let their blessing speak to your spirit-man that yours is by the corner!
I pray for you:
As the Lord visited Abraham, Mary and Martha, and blessed them, may you also experience your own blessings and answers to your prayers in due time, in Jesus name. Amen
