Blessings: Gift or Right?

Read From Keynote

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 (CSB)

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Don’t stifle the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

When I was about sixteen years old,

Everyone would tell me I needed to continue with school, and to keep it as a priority I would always brush them off by saying,

“that’s ok, when I’m 18 I’ll just get a job with my Dad” at the “Factory”

No one could convince me to change my mind. I thought, I had a solid plan for my future.

I could kick back and relax until I was old enough to get a job there. I knew my Dad would get me hired there, no problem.

Well, my plan fell apart right just after I officially left school behind.

The Factory “Closed” all of the sudden. That was it; my first lesson in taking things for granted.

I remember hearing a story

About a young girl Who wanted to commit suicide.

She was completely disgusted with God for not making her life go the way she wanted it to go.

She stopped her prayer life because she felt ignored by God. So, she decided to get back at God and the world.

She would take her own life. She decided suicide was her way out.

She planned to ride her bike onto the train tracks. Just when a train was coming through to be sure of certain death. But before she did it, in her anger, she swore a promise to God.

She swore she would never again join her hands together in prayer to the Lord. The Lord heard her promise.

As she was riding her bike towards the train tracks just as the train was rolling down the tracks, she hit a rock with her front tire which caused her to be thrown forward towards the oncoming train.

She just missed the rails with her head, landing in superman fashion causing both her hands to be cut off at the wrists.

The reality of death hit her being so close to it she then decided she wanted to live.

But, she would never again close her hands in prayer again.

She took for granted the power of the tongue.

Proverbs tell us in

Proverbs 18:21 (CSB)

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Many of us go through life taking things for granted

I can think of a famous comedian who said publicly that, he thinks life is all an illusion, that nothing is real etc. (Eastern / New Age Philosophy)

The notion that everything is all an illusion, that we are all one in the same, that make up the energy or what ever. Like Shirley MacLaine’s new age pagan witch craft claims

I say, tell that to the mother of a sick child.

Tel that to any refugee of war, or the people living in migrant camps desperately trying to get into the country to make their imaginary suffrage just a little more bearable,

As they live in filth and squalor lacking food, water, clean clothes or medicine for themselves or loved ones.

Tell that to the starving people of Venezuela who not long ago were so starved due to the political chaos of communism in the country, that they broke into the Zoos, to kill and eat the animals.

Life is just an illusion? How absurd!

It’s funny these statements always come from extremely rich people who have all the money in the world that they fall into despair because they find money truly can’t

buy the happiness, purpose & meaning every human instinctively try to find.

Not being able to find it through money they decide it was all a hoax, It’s not real.

It’s not true meaning, purpose & happiness are all unattainable.

How absurd!

Its easy to fall into the habit of taking things in life for granted especially, when life seems to be going well.

I caught myself taking my truck for granted.

The last major snow and cold spell we had this past winter.

Everyone was out buying salt and “de-icer” etc…

Yadi was concerned about letting Jacob drive to work in the snow I said,

“Agh don’t worry, If it snows real bad, I’ll go get him in the truck.”

Well, It snowed and I went out to my trusty truck, only to find that it was so cold outside, that the starter froze and wouldn’t start.

I had to ask one of my brothers to go pick him up because I was ill prepared.

This reminds me of how Jesus taught about the ten virgins.

Read From Keynote

Matthew 25:1–13 (CSB)

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

They believed they would have enough time, or they could surely get some from the others.

Wrong!!

Read From Keynote

Luke 12:16–21 (CSB)

16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

God doesn’t appreciate when we cut Him out of the Loop.

I mean, He doesn’t like it when we take His blessings to us for granted.

They are a gift, not a right!

Remember the story of Esau? God hated Esau because he took his blessing of being first born and legal heir to his fathers estate for granted.

Instead he traded it for a bowl of soup.

It doesn’t matter what the trade was for, it was a blessing.

and it was laid aside as nothing meaningful

I want you to know

Right here and now, that your life is not something to be taken for granted.

You should live your life everyday, as if it was a blessing Because “IT IS!”

No matter how confusing it is

No matter how sick your body is.

No matter what kind of mess you have made of it.

Or what kind of mess someone else has helped make it.

It is a blessings from God to you!

We need to thank God for that!

Always in everything we do like thanking the Lord before every meal.

Or every morning when we wake up to another day with air in our lungs, and blood in our veins.

Thank you Lord for one more day to do this or enjoy that

Your children are blessings from God also.

No matter how messed up they are

No matter how sick they are.

They are a blessings from God to you.

“And to whom much is given, much will be required” so says Luke 12:48

Thank the Lord for them everyday.

Everything in your life is a blessing

Even your material things. Especially material things

I tell this story every time I can.

I wanted a boat for the longest time. Years ago, when I was finally able to maintain it, I asked God for a boat.

I didn’t know how He was going to do it because I couldn’t afford it.

One ordinary day, on a job site, I complimented to the customer about a boat parked on their property.

That person said to me “If you want it, take it!”

Just like that, I had a boat, and had several years of fun on it.

Do you expect me to believe the devil wanted me to have it?

No, it was given to me by God, and I thank Him every time I tell this story.

Your true friends are blessings too.

Tell that friend how much you care for them and appreciate them. Thank the Lord for them.

1 Thessalonians 5:17–18 (CSB)

17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is always there for you

Tell Him how much you appreciate His friendship.

Talk to Him.

Spend time with Him.

Show Him in your spiritual walk that you appreciate the salvation He provided you when he freely, willingly, died for you on the cross.

Give Him thanks for your many blessings, and for the many blessings to come!

Because they are a gift to you!