What it is to be Blessed
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 8; Psalm 128
While I don’t think it would be accurate to say that Psalm 128 says everything there is to say about what it means to live a blessed life, it does make some points that are worth our consideration and contemplation today.
First, notice that the root of blessing is the fear of the Lord and walking in the ways of God. Blessing isn’t some accident of fate. It comes to us through a relationship with God. Being blessed is the fruit of faith.
There are a lot of “humble brags” posted on social media—pictures of expensive jewelry, a fancy car, or a big house, with a caption that includes the word blessed. And to be fair, there’s nothing wrong with recognizing material gain as a blessing from God. But often, the life behind the post doesn’t exactly exude the characteristics of faith and holiness.
Then we come to Psalm 128. What do we see emphasized as marks of a blessed life? Hard work that results in provision—yes. But even more than that: relationships. In particular, family relationships. The Psalmist highlights a wife, children, and grandchildren. That’s the picture we’re given.
The old hymn calls on us to “count your blessings, name them one by one.” If we’re going to do that, we’d be wise to start naming them with names—names like Chad and Sarah, Mark and Melinda. Not names like Rolex and Rolls Royce.
The greatest blessings are the people we love and the people who love us. Everything else pales in comparison.
