"Thou shalt be a blessing" Genesis 12:2
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As children of God, we weren't called to sit around and absorb God's blessings. We were meant to be a blessing to those around us, as our spiritual ancestors were. But blessing others is more than just saying, "God bless you." Blessing others goes beyond what we say and think; it's what we do that has the postential to be a blessing to others.
"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" James 2:15, 16
You can spout blessings to people a thousand times a day, but if you do nothing to be a blessing, what are you but a windbag? Blessing others is more than just saying, "God bless you." God has called his children to be real blessings, not hypocrites.
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:17
James was comparing faith to being a blessing. If your blessings to others are in words alone, with no works, they are dead.
Let's look at some of our spiritual predecessors to see how they were called to be and were blessings to others.
"I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:2, 3
The words above are what God declared unto Abraham. Do you realize that we are still being blessed through Abraham, today? I know I'm blessed whenever I read about his faith and meditate upon his works in the Lord.
But, he was a blessing to others. Abraham was a good man. He was the kind of neighbor you would love to have because he was a blessing to all those in contact with him. Remember the three men (the Lord and two angels) who showed up at his tent (Genesis 18)? He immediately commanded that the visitors be fed and refreshed. Remember when the Lord told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah; Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city if any righteous people could be found. Wouldn't you like to know that someone like Abraham is interceding for you? Abraham was even a blessing to the sons of Heth (Genesis 23:1-16). When Sarah died, Ephron the Hitite offered to give him a burying place for her. But, Abraham was determined to pay for it. He simply was an honest, generous man, who thought of others and he was determined to do what was right before God and humanity.
Let's look at these scriptures about Joseph. Joseph had been treacherously sold into slavery by his brothers (who at first wanted to murder him -- Genesis 37:18). Joseph could have retained bitterness and sat around and complained about how bad things were. But, he overcame his problems and decided to be a blessing. When Potiphar, captain of the Egyptian guard, purchased Joseph as a slave, Joseph continued to be a blessing.
"The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man: and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught he had save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured." Genesis 39:2-6
Joseph had to work to be a blessing. He worked hard for his master. He was trustworthy and loyal. His righteousness made him a blessing to everyone he came in contact with. He overcame his brothers' cruelty; he overcame his plights, time and time again.
We all would do well to follow men like Abraham and Joseph, men who were a blessing to those around them. They weren't a blessing in word, but they were blessings in how they served others. Yes, it's work. It's work to serve others. It's work to overcome our own problems and troubles at times. But, we can do it in Christ the Lord.
Almighty God, help us to look beyond ourselves, beyond our own problems, and let us find the joy of being a blessing to others in Christ Jesus (Yashua). All to the glory of God our Father. Amen.
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