Living The Blessed Life: Attitude For The Blessing

 

Living The Blessed Life

Attitude For The Blessing

Matthew 5:1-3,13

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven....

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Who does not want to be blessed? I am sure not you. Hardly will you find any one who does not want to be blessed. We want to be happier than we were. We want to live healthier. We want to have happy families. We want people to love us and do us good. We want to move around freely, to go to the places we want, to get the things we want, to do the things we want, to eat, to drink, to achieve, to be the people we preconceived to be fortunate and happy. We all want to be blessed. It comes at a price. The price have to be paid for us to live the blessed life. To expect someone to pay the price for our happiness will be too demanding especially if that someone is not willing and has to pay for himself/herself to be blessed.

Jesus paid for us and he taught us what it takes to be blessed, happy and fortunate. By his death on the cross, he drained the power of death, pain and sin from having effect on us. This have given us a good ground to be blessed and to be a blessing to others. That Jesus paid the price for our happiness does not suggest we fold our hands and expect things to happen on their own accord. We are to play our part to see that all goes well with what was completed on the cross.  Jesus will not have us on the dark, he taught us on how to be blessed and happy by his teaching. All his teachings while on Earth is a complete package for our blessing. There is this one particular set of teaching that was targeted to reposition us to enjoy God's super-abundant blessing. It is popularly called 'Sermon On The Mount'. Jesus emphasized its importance by the way he presented the teaching.

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:.."

The crowd was present, a rapport was created, he found a conducive environment, there was orderliness and he sat down and effortlessly poured out his mind to the crowd. This is one of the best condition to learn from teacher to students. The crowd was attentive, organized and orderly. The disciples of Jesus were present to manage any situation. Teachers love this kind of environment. We have learned over time that Jesus knows how to manage people and this particular case, he excellently manage the situation and the crowd. This is just to drive home the importance of what he was about to say.

"...And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,..."

Since he got their attention, he began to teach them. He was audible and clear. Everyone present could hear his voice. No one could say that Jesus' points were not clear. He opened his mouth and taught them. He envisioned the outcome of his teaching. He expected an outcome by the time he finish the teaching.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

A segment of the teaching of the sermon on the mount is popularly called "Beattitudes". This set of teaching was sandwiched with the phrase "Blessed are...". It was meant to keep the people blessed. By observation, it is clear that he intended them to be blessed and by their blessing, they will be a blessing and salt to the Earth. They were expected to lightened the the whole Earth.

"Ye are the salt of the earth:.."

This statement followed immediately after the Beattitudes. The blessed life is meant to make the Earth better. Salt preseves from decay and makes food tasty. By the time the teaching of the Beattitudes was implemented by the hearers, the Earth will be preseved and life will become more meaningful. Practisioners of the Beattitudes will become happier and more fortunate. This will spread by its saltiness to non-practisioners. It has a preserving effect.

"... if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?..."

Continuous practice of what Jesus taught was meant to be a life pattern, once there is a break, corruption comes in. Salt can loose it's savour. If there is lost in saltiness, it is no longer useful. In other words, Jesus was saying that it was meant to be a way of life. The content of the Beattitudes will speak for itself.

The Beattitudes

Matthew 5:3-12

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. "

1. Poor In Spirit

""Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

A poor man knows that he does not have enough to go by. A rich man knows that he has more than enough to meet his needs, the needs of his immediate dependants and surplus more to give away. The rich will tend to depend on their wealth for decision making, for defense, and for survival. There is the tendency for the rich to not look up to God for help. Self sufficiency is the tendency of the rich. Jesus spoke about "... the poor in spirit...". These set of people can see their limitations as to meeting their spiritual needs. They need help. They look for the help of God. These set of people could be rich in material things but can see how much they are inadequate spiritually. They could be poor in material things but at the same time look up to God in truth and in spirit. No matter their status in life, if spiritually they can see how poor they are, blessed are they.

What becomes of them? 

"...theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

This knowledge should make them happy. Infact, the more they see their spiritual poverty and seek God to enrich them spiritually, they are blessed. You may not be rich in material things but if you will admit that you are poor in spirit and you need God, you are fortunate because God will favour you. You may be rich in material things but if only you can see how poor in spirit you are and seek God, you are fortunate and blessed. 

These set of people will make the world a better place to live. Whether rich or poor in material things, seek God! See how poor you are without Him. 

2. The Mourners

"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

People can mourn for various reasons. People can mourn for their death, they can mourn for lost items they treasure and many more. God can comfort for any reason anyone may mourn but it is clear from the flow of ideas in the scriptures above that Jesus was discussing about poor in spirit when he brought the idea of those who mourn. The poor in spirit will likely mourn for spiritual inadequacy, for sin (to be repented), for the needs of others. For such people, they are blessed. They are blessed with comfort.

These set of people will make the world a better place to live. By their mourning towards God, they draw His comfort which can bless them and the people around them. They are 'salting' the Earth. Will you mourn over your sin? Will you mourn for the delapidated state of the world? Will you mourn for the needs of others? You are blessed for that.

3. The Meek

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

The meek do not raise themselves above others. They wait to be lifted. They see God as the lifter of men. They trust Him to do it for them. The meek are patient with God and with men. For the meek, the will of God is what is important to them. They have a healthy perspective of themselves. They do not raise themselves above others at the same time, they do not see themselves as being useless. They are useful in the hands of God. They are blessed. They are happier and fortunate because they know that God will do it for them at His time. They shall inherit the earth because the owner of the world will give them their lot as heirs.

4. Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

We hunger for food and thirst for water in terms of bodily needs, to keep us energetic and refreshed to go about our daily lives. Spiritually, there is another level of hunger and thirst that needs to be satisfied.

"...hunger and thirst after righteousness..."

Righteousness is right standing with God. If you are hungry for righteousness, you will want it so much that when it comes, you will so enjoy it without thinking twice about it. If you thirst for it like you thirst for water, you will drink with much passion when it is offered to you. God loves righteousness. He is so ready to give it to you if you will thirst for it. You will not value it if you do not hunger and thirst for it. There are many things that accompany righteousness, they make for a happy life. The righteous makes this world a better place to live. That is why God is ready to fill those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

5. The Merciful

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

We reap what we sow. When we sow good then we reap good. When we sow mercy then we reap mercy. This is the way to live happy. The merciful shall obtain mercy. As they do it for others, it comes back to them. The merciful are blessed. The merciful are happier. They make this world a better place. While some are looking for revenge and to pay back for what has happened, the merciful are happier because they are looking for the opportunity to show mercy. In return, they will get mercy.

6. Pure In Heart

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

God is pure. Those who are pure in heart will sort of be magneted to Him. Impure hearts repel God. The choice to be pure in heart is ours to make. If we make the choice to be pure in heart, God will provide the spiritual resources to make it possible. Purity of heart gives us audience before God. Having an audience before the presence of a president of a country is great but much more greater is standing before God. You do not stand before the presence of the president just any how. Just in the a similar way, you do not stand in the presence of God any how. Purity of heart is very important to have audience with God. 

People who have audience with God, can speak to Him on behalf of the people. They make the world a better place to live.

7. The Peacemakers

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

Peacemakers are blessed because they reduce the tendency for conflict. They have peace within themselves and they know what it means to have peace around then. They make peace between fellow men and between man and God. In the first place, a peace maker is having peace within. The peace maker can see clearly the need for peace.

You can not give what you do not have. You must have peace to be able to give peace and then reconcile men to peace. Peacemakers, resemble God. Like Father like children.

"...they shall be called the children of God."

The lack of peace in many sectors of the world calls for Peacemakers. Desire to be a peacemaker by having a heart peaceful and going to the prince of peace who will make a peacemaker of you.

8. Persecution For Righteousness

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Truly blessed people can stir jealousy in the hearts of people. Instead of desiring to be blessed, the jealous will persecute the blessed. A complete package of the blessed life will come with persecution attached. 

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:.."

Living a righteous life brings a divine blessing. This blessing usually results in persecution. If you are persecuted for righteousness sake, you are blessed. The persecution will many a times popularize the righteous causing them to be noticed by many. It is another level of advertisement. While it may not always be good for the persecuted, Jesus is saying that they are blessed.

"...theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Heaven is bliss to be revealed when our time on earth is over. Knowing this gives the persecuted peace. He is happy inspite the persecution.

9. False Accusations And Revilings

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

To be publicly disgraced can be disheartening. If the accusation is based on crime and ungodliness, it reduces a person but if it is based on the righteous living, you are blessed. 

"...when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake..."

Note that in this case, the evil spoken against you is false, it is for the sake of Jesus. You are blessed.

Matthew 5:12

"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

What you are expected to do is 'Rejoice!'. They have done it for others, your case is not special. 

All we are saying in essence is that the attitude and disposition of the blessed man who will sustain the blessing as taught by Jesus is that, he is happier if he will things the way Jesus taught.