Your Blessing Has a Purpose — And It’s Not Just to Be Enjoyed
Blessed to Reflect: Why Every Gift Must Point Back to God
It’s hard to believe I lived through a world-altering event like the COVID-19 pandemic. What made it even more surreal was welcoming my first child during that same season.
One moment stands out in my memory: the priestly prayer being spoken over the nation, not just by churches, but even by some political leaders. The promise many of us were clinging to came from 2 Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NIV)
It was powerful in theory, but looking back, something seemed off in our theology.
Now, in the rearview mirror of post-COVID life, it seems that what we really longed for was to return to work, earn more money, and enjoy our comforts again. Our prayer for healing wasn’t wrong, but was it rightly ordered?
This realization came rushing back to me as I read Psalm 67:
Biblical Blessing: For His Glory Among the Nations
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.”
(Psalm 67:1–2)
Here’s what this Psalm makes clear:
Grace → is not the end. It’s the means.
Favor → is not for our fame. It’s for His renown.
Harvest → is not so we can store up. It’s so we can show off His goodness to the world.
How That Differs From Most Modern Blessing Prayers
Today, we often pray:
“Lord, bless me so I can be safe.”
“Heal our land so we can get back to normal.”
“Provide so I can stop stressing.”
But Psalm 67 calls us higher:
“Bless us so the world sees You.”
“Shine on us so Your ways are known—reflected through us.”
“Cause harvest so all nations fear You.”
Why Does It Matter? Why Must Blessing Always Be Connected to God?
Because every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17).
If you've tasted any measure of joy, provision, safety, or success — if you've had the privilege of growing up in a free nation, or walking into a stocked grocery store — you’ve experienced a gift from God.
But here's the tension: recognizing the gift is not enough.
To truly enjoy the gift as it was meant to be enjoyed, the Source must be acknowledged, and the Giver glorified.
Gratitude without direction drifts into sentiment.
Enjoyment without worship becomes idolatry.
But when we connect the blessing to its Source, we experience the gift as it was intended — holy, joyful, and overflowing with purpose.
Because Here’s the Deeper Truth: We Were Made to Reflect, Not Just Consume
“So God created mankind in his own image…”
(Genesis 1:27)
Our design is like a mirror — reflecting God's goodness and pointing everything back to Him.
When we receive a blessing but keep the glory, something breaks. The mirror cracks.
“Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him… their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
(Romans 1:21)
This isn’t just a warning — it’s a window into what happens when we disconnect the gift from the Giver. Gratitude becomes vague. Worship gets replaced. And hearts grow cold.
Jesus Modeled the Right Response
Even as the Son of God, Jesus paused to give thanks:
“Then he took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed…” (John 6:11)
“At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father…’” (Matthew 11:25)
If Jesus gave glory for every gift, so should we.
Because when we don’t, we miss not only the purpose of the gift, but the presence of the Giver.
Never Finished Challenge: A Better Way to Pray for Blessing
Memorise:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
Every week on Sunday, write down three blessings you received and how they point to God. Then, tell someone about them giving God glory.
What Does Today Say About God?
Giver.
God is not Santa Claus. He doesn’t distribute based on a naughty or nice list. He’s a perfect Father who blesses us with gifts that reveal His heart.
When God gives, He gives with purpose. And when we reflect Him, life isn’t just lived purposefully — it’s given purposefully.
I’m so thankful He chose me.
I have the privilege of being His son.
And every gift He’s given has been exactly what I’ve needed — and a powerful opportunity to point back to Him.