REJOICE IN GOD’S BLESSINGS

Psalm 103:1-2

Of David.

    Praise the Lord, O my soul;

        all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

    Praise the Lord, O my soul,

        and forget not all his benefits—

                We can be forgetful people. We can forget the source of our well-being, our prosperity, our very life. As a society, we have fallen into the trap that Moses warned the people of Israel about before they entered the Promised Land.

   When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Deuteronomy 8:10-11

    You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17-18

                Today, when people are confronted with their obligation to give praise and thanks to God, it is more likely that they will respond with, “it is only what I deserve.” As followers of Christ, we can easily fall into this trap as well. We can begin to believe that God’s blessings are our right and that God is obligated to make sure that we get them. We can take the grace of God for granted and fail to give God the praise.

                It seems like David was fully aware of this danger. He challenged himself to never forget what God had done for him. God chose David to be the king of Israel when he was just a shepherd boy watching his father’s flocks. God protected David from the wrath of King Saul. God expanded Israel’s territory under David’s rule. God gave David great prosperity. All of these things were temptations to David; temptations to take the credit and forget the source. So David wrote Psalm 103 to remind himself from where all that he had came.

                Paul David Tripp shared an encounter that he had with a man from another country. He asked the man to give him his honest opinion of America. The man was hesitant at first, but after Paul encouraged him, he spoke. His response was telling. “In America, you have so much and you complain so much.” There are two dangerous responses that we could make to this accurate indictment. We could defend ourselves and try to explain that he was wrong. Or we could beat ourselves up and determine to give up everything. I believe both responses are faulty.

                The response that God wants from us is joyful praise and thanksgiving to Him. Paul states it well in 1 Timothy 6:17. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. We have a loving, heavenly Father who wants us to fully enjoy all the blessings that He provides. He also wants us to always keep things in perspective. He is the source of our blessings, and He deserves our thanks and praise. Again, Paul makes this clear in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. God has not called us to live the life of the joyless ascetic, but the life of the joyful child of God. We should never take for granted God’s blessings, nor should we ignore them as if they were of no value. Instead they should be a catalyst for genuine praise to God.

                At the heart of this is the question, to what are we looking to give us a sense of well-being and contentment. If we are looking to the things of this world, we will always be disappointed. But if we will look to Christ, He will fulfill that deep need for genuine contentment.

                Paul learned that lesson, and we can learn from him. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:10-13

                We should never be ashamed of God’s blessings. We should never be reluctant to accept God’s blessings. Instead, we should receive them with joy and give them back to God in praise.