God’s words are our law and order and the key to live a blessed life.
An embarrassing fact of my life: I am terrible at directions. I have been getting chicken meals from my neighborhood chick-fil-la for two years. But every time I start my car, I need to swipe my phone and get on the map app for directions.
Yes, I can’t live without the maps app on my phone. Or I will risk the chance of getting lost even just going to the neighborhood chick-fil-la.
And before I go, I like to enlarge my map to see where I am going. So I will get a general sense of direction.
Knowing the map of how to live a blessed Christian life is the same: Even if you can’t see beyond tomorrow because you are in a stressful period of your life, it will greatly help your mental wellness to know where you are going spiritually. It brings you inner peace, comfort, and general direction. So here is my understanding of how to live a blessed life:
Step one: Get wisdom
“For wisdom is more precious than rubies,
And nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 3:15)
Whatever you are doing, whatever your circumstances are, get wisdom first. Dive into God’s words, meditating, deep thinking, observing, and learning from others’ and your own mistakes. Those are all the resources to get wisdom.
Reading Proverbs is a great way to start, especially Proverbs 1 to 9.
Link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%201&version=NIV
Step two: Discover your unique God-given gifts
I believe each of us has not only one but several God-given gifts. Because God Himself is a generous and cheerful giver!
Those gifts could show up in all kinds of forms. You could be especially good at planning, organizing, doing crafts with your children, writing, painting, or being an entrepreneur. Using the wisdom you gained to discover your unique God-given gifts.
All your natural gifts are tied to your spiritual gifts. This post is a good explanation of spiritual gifts:
Third step: Use your gifts well
Invest in your gifts. Maybe it requires your time, money, or your energy. We have a responsibility to use our gifts well. The Bible tells us a story about three servants. The servants who well invested the money given by their boss received praise and rewards. And the servant who did nothing with the money got punishment. (Matthew 25: 14-30)
“To those who use well what they are given, even more, will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29)
Step four: Be generous
Let’s just be generous with our blessings and share with others freely, shall we?
Whether it’s your money, time, company, or energy, it doesn’t matter how much or how little you think you have, you always have something to give.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul talked about generosity with the church. But it applies to every believer in all areas of our lives as well.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 6-8)
When you are generous with your resources, God will bless you abundantly; though it may not be what you wanted, nevertheless less, He will bless you in the way He sees fit.
Step Five:
Glorify the Father through your blessed life
The ultimate result of being generous is giving thanksgiving to God and glorifying Him.
Let’s continue using 2 Corinthians 9 as an example:
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for good will also give and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service you perform not only supplies the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-13)
Let’s meditate on these verses for a while…because your generosity, God will enrich you in every way so you can be more generous in more ways, thus bringing thanksgiving to the grace of God.
Now that should be the ultimate goal of the Christian life.
I sincerely hope this post will map out a clear path for you. And I would appreciate you sharing this with others if you find this helpful.
Blessings!
Ying
Dear Heavenly Father:
First and foremost, please bless me with your wisdom. Enable me to have deep insight into my own heart and every situation I encounter. Enlarge the tools within my gifts so I can be a generous blessing to others. Increase my store of seed and enlarge my fruits of labor. Guide my every step, and bless me with success in everything I do under your oversight. Let my life shine the light of your kingdom and bring thanksgiving as my offering.
In Jesus’s name
Amen
