Being Blessed -what does it mean?

This article appears in February's War Cry - Singapore. I put this in for those who do not get our War Cry.

Being blessed – what does it mean?

It’s always a joy to hear someone testify, “I’ve been blessed.” What does the word “blessed” mean? It is common usage in all places of worship. It is used in everyday conversation quite often spoken without much thought.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians exclaims “How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is.” Ephesians 1: 3. Blessing flows from the Almighty God to all mankind. He is the source, we are the recipients.

Many people tend to equate blessing with material prosperity. It is true to an extent, for God does bless his servants with material blessings. During Lunar New Year, the most common form of greeting is Gong Xi Fa Cai - wishing someone a prosperous New Year. It is evidence of the materialistic thinking of many in our society. But material prosperity itself is not necessarily the sign of divine blessing. Some of God’s greatest blessings come out of pain, suffering and poverty as the lives of many saints testify.

Christians wish one another – New Year Peace – Xin Nian Ping An. Being spiritually blessed is having our relationship with God put right. It is peace with God resulting in peace with each other. And this is the peace the world needs.

Chinese families place much emphasis on the traditional reunion dinner normally held on New Year Eve. In our modern society the day for the banquet has become more flexible as long as this is held within the New Year period. It has to fit in with the schedule of the participants and the availability of bookings at restaurants. The timing is not as important as the spirit for the observation – the reaffirmation of family and kinship ties.

The reunion dinner brings the family members together for a meal and fellowship. During the year there might have been misunderstandings or quarrels and this is the opportunity for family members to meet for reconciliation, restoration and enhancement of relationship. Peace is something that should be ongoing and progressively maintained in our daily living.

“Anyone who claims to be in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him 1 John 2:9-11 (NIV)

So let us all gou nien (cross over to the New Year) with a new attitude of loving one other. It is our Christian duty to set aside resentment or bitterness that mars our relationship with God, our families and our fellowmen. Make the New Year a time of reconciliation and renewal of relationships with God and others. When that happens we are truly blessed.