The world often measures blessing by money, status, possessions, and comfort. But Scripture gives us a larger view. Being blessed means God is present, guiding, providing, correcting, strengthening, and using your life for His purpose.
[00:00:37] Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, rightly dividing the word of truth, and learning how to apply it to our daily lives. You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast. And now, here's Elgin. Brothers and sisters, I welcome you.
[00:01:05] In the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, to another edition of The Bible Speaks, where we're studying God's word together. Today's episode is titled, Am I Blessed? Our scriptural inspiration comes from Deuteronomy, chapter 28, verse 8. And reading from the English Standard Version, it reads,
[00:01:36] The Lord will command the blessing on you, in your barns and all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. In Deuteronomy 28 and 8, Moses reminds Israel that God's blessing is not limited to one area of life.
[00:01:57] The Lord promises to bless their barns, their work, and what they undertake as they walk in obedience to Him. This blessing is not just about possessions. It's about God's covering over their labor, stewardship, provision, and purpose. It's easy to look around and wonder, am I really blessed? We see people who don't seem to honor God prospering.
[00:02:27] We see others getting promoted, buying homes, building businesses, taking vacations, and appearing to move from one success to another. Then we look at our own lives, and sometimes it feels like every step requires a fight. Even harder, we may look at people inside the body of Christ and wonder why everything they touch seems to work,
[00:02:54] while we're praying, working, giving, serving, and still struggling to make ends meet. But the question we must ask is, are we measuring blessing by God's word or by the world's scoreboard? Let us pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for being the source of every good and perfect gift. Open our hearts today so we do not measure our lives by the world's standards,
[00:03:24] but by your word, your wisdom, and your faithfulness. Help us understand what it truly means to be blessed. Teach us to trust you in seasons of abundance and in seasons of struggle. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. Deuteronomy 28 and 8 says,
[00:03:54] That's powerful language. God doesn't merely allow the blessing, he commands it. But the blessing he commands may not always look like what the world celebrates. The world often measures blessings by money, status, position, and comfort. But scripture gives us a larger view.
[00:04:17] Being blessed means God is present, guiding, providing, and using your life for his purpose. Psalm 1 and 3 describes the blessed person as a tree planted by the streams of water, bearing fruit in season. Notice that fruit comes in season. That means there may be seasons where the roots are growing before the fruit is visible.
[00:04:44] There may be seasons when God is developing character, discipline, patience, and humility before he allows increase to be seen publicly. So yes, you are blessed, even while waiting, rebuilding, learning stewardship, or even when your bank account does not reflect the promise. That doesn't mean financial hardship is easy. It doesn't mean God ignores our needs.
[00:05:13] In fact, Deuteronomy 28 and 8 shows the opposite. God cares about the barn. He cares about the work of our hands. He cares about provision. He cares about what we undertake. But God's blessings often come through wisdom, obedience, and unexpected favor. Sometimes the blessing is not a check in the mail. It's wisdom to stop wasting money.
[00:05:43] Sometimes it's not a new job immediately. It's discipline to prepare for the next opportunity. Sometimes the blessing is not instant abundance. It's a person God sends to open a door, speak encouragement, or provide direction. This connects what we discussed in deliverance. God is still in control, even when the world feels unstable.
[00:06:10] It also connects to obtaining wisdom, where we talked about learning from our journey instead of repeating regret. Sometimes blessing looks like God's giving us understanding so we can make better decisions next time. As believers, we must be careful not to compare our behind-the-scenes process with someone else's highlight reel.
[00:06:37] Comparison can make us resentful, ungrateful, and blind to what God is already doing. Galatians 6 and 4, reading from the New Living Translation, reminds us to pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. So instead of asking, am I blessed? Ask better questions.
[00:07:08] Is God giving me wisdom? Correcting me because he loves me? Using me to bless someone else? Giving me strength to keep going? Or is God helping me become more like Christ? If the answer is yes, then you're blessed. Because blessing is not just what God puts in your hand. Blessing is what God is doing in your heart.
[00:07:35] And when God blesses the work of your hands, remember this, the blessing is not just for you. Like we discussed in Overflowing for Others, God fills us so that we can pour into someone else. He blesses our barns so there's provisions, stability, generosity, and testimony. The blessed life is not a selfish life. It's a surrendered life.
[00:08:02] So today, don't let the world define your blessing. Don't let comparison steal your gratitude. Don't let temporary struggle convince you that God has forgotten you. God sees your work. Knows your needs. Honors obedience. And provides in ways you may not ever expect. Heavenly Father,
[00:08:28] Thank you for reminding us that true blessing is bigger than material gain or worldly status. Help us stop comparing our lives to others and start trusting your work in us. Bless the work of our hands. Guide our decisions. Strengthen our faith. And teach us to steward well what you have entrusted to us. Let our lives show gratitude, obedience, generosity, and trust.
[00:08:56] Use what you give us to bless others and bring glory to your name. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. I thank you for spending time with me on today. And I look forward to our conversation next Sunday. Until then, God bless.
[00:09:21] The Bible Speaks is sponsored by C Squared Realty and New Gen Construction Group to help spread the gospel to the corners of the earth. If anything you've heard poured into your life, please share it with someone. You can find The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer, and many more.
[00:09:48] Follow us on YouTube at The Bible Speaks Online. You may contact Elgin at P.O. Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478 or by email at TheBibleSpeaksOnline at gmail.com.