The Bible says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22.
Oftentimes, when we hear the word “blessing,” we equate it to financial release or increase. Blessing is not just money. When we talk about God’s blessings, it includes the gifts of goodness, favour and grace, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, physical provisions such as health, protection, fruitful works, and so on.
In Genesis 12, God called Abram out of his father’s house, his place of familiarity, and from serving an idol, and promised to bless him. From all indications, Abram was okay. Verse 5 says:
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
One of the challenges Abram was facing was childlessness, so in Genesis 22:17–18, God said:
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
God blesses by invoking divine favour upon His children.
You see, God knows your areas of deficiency, which are many as a human being. Just like Abraham was concerned only about childlessness, God sees beyond that. He knows what needs to be done for you to enjoy your blessings without the attendant issues from the devil and his agents.
Nothing on this earth works in isolation. Everything is connected, even if you cannot see it.
It is like a man desiring to have a car. Yes, a car is good, and even if it is to prove a point to your friends and colleagues, you can deceive yourself into thinking it is a need. (I am not saying having a car is a luxury.) But you know getting a car is the least of the problems, you will need to do the necessary paperwork, fuel the car, and spend money on maintenance. You have to think of insurance, theft, accidents, fire, etc.
So, you see, the car itself is minimal.
Another example is when you have a new job. Your Father will not just give you the job; He will also have to make sure He gives you the wisdom, strength, and grace to be successful at the job.
So, when the Bible says God’s blessings do not add sorrow, it means God considers everything that is associated with the blessing and deals with them so that you will not have any sorrow.
Imagine driving the car out with all your family members in it and an accident occurs, and everyone dies except you. Is that a blessing that gives joy?
You can argue that you have your necessary papers, you have serviced your car, you fuel it, and it is in good condition. But, my friend, you have no control over the other driver and the condition of his vehicle. Still, you lost your loved ones.
The major purpose of the blessings of God is to show His love to His children and to display His power in their lives for the world to see.
So, if you ask for something from Him and He knows what surrounds such a request, He can decide whether your request is good for you or not.
Sometimes, it is even an issue of your maturity. Are you mature enough for what you are asking for?
His love for you will not let Him give you what you cannot handle.
The Bible says in Psalm 84:12:
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Our ignorance makes us conclude that when we ask and do not receive, in spite of His promises, then He is not what He says He is. Some even depart from the faith because of this.
Now, do you think the Almighty God who made the heavens and the earth is not able to provide what you need?
The Bible says the cattle upon a thousand hills belong to Him; gold and silver are also His.
I have wondered so many times how the animals came to Noah to be in the ark. He showed mercy unto thousands of them that love Him and obey His commands, Exodus 20:6, Deuteronomy 5:10.
Do you think what you are asking for is so big that He cannot provide it?
All the things you need to live and prosper have already been created. He does not have to go into the factory or exercise any extra power to meet your need.
He loves you too much to give you what will destroy you.
God desires your progress and victory because He is glorified when you succeed, John 15:8.
If you do not receive what you ask for, then it is not time to complain and believe that God hates you or that His words are not powerful enough. Rather, you need to know how God functions and how the life that you have received from Him functions.
Do not assume that you know because someone said so or because you see manifestations of something in someone else’s life.
You must have heard that God does not have grandchildren. You have to know Him by yourself and seek His ways for you.
God’s blessings are always comprehensive. They cover all areas of your life, irrespective of where you are.
Joseph is one example of God’s blessing.
* While in his father’s house, he enjoyed favour.
* While in Potiphar’s house as a slave, his presence brought God’s blessing to Potiphar’s house.
* While in prison, the Bible says in Genesis 39:21–23:
But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
* Eventually, when he became a prime minister in a strange country, the economy of the country became so blessed that, during the famine, the whole nation of Egypt and other nations round about were preserved. At that time, Egypt became a world power.
You see, when God blesses you, it is a total package, full option, your family, people around you, and even nations benefit from God’s blessing on your life.
If your so-called blessing is limited to you, then of what good will that do to the Kingdom of God and the coming of the Lord?
God wants to display His power — Genesis 39:2–3.
The Bible says in Psalm 62:11:
God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
God wants to display His power in your life much more than you also desire, but it is only through His way that it will be done.
1 Corinthians 4:20, Ephesians 1:19, Hebrews 1:3.
God’s blessings will be displayed in your life according to His will, and His power will always follow His will. He will not sponsor anything that has nothing to do with His will.
Know His will and obey it. Then you too can boldly say, there is nothing I ask from God that He has not done or that He will not do for me.