Do You Suffer From “Blessings Guilt?”

Floyd Allen, Editor-in-Chief
GOD’S GOOD NEWS GAZETTE

We live at a time when the heroes who protect our Nation and Freedoms suffer more after they have served their nation than during that service. In fact, an article posted on the INTERNET in June of 2021 tells us that

FOUR TIMES AS MANY TROOPS AND VETS HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE THAN IN COMBAT SINCE 9/11.

 One of the issues that Vets have to deal with is “Survivor’s Guilt.” This, of course, is when a soldier returns home and has to deal with the fact that he is alive and others in his or her platoon are not. While grateful, there is often a gnawing sense of guilt that they deal with for an undeterminable amount of time!

 As “Christian Soldiers” we, too, can be plagued by a form of guilt of our own – Blessings Guilt. While nowhere as detrimental and devastating as Survivor’s Guilt, Blessings Guilt can, if we allow it to, “destroy” us by robbing us of the Joy we should feel as we receive God’s Blessings.

 We need to remember that Guilt never comes from God. Rather, it is one of the tools of Satan! As we enjoy our Faith Walk, being Blessed in multiple ways, we need to revel in all that God gives us. And, I don’t mean just Financial things! Our Blessings run the gamut from good health to sound relationships; from ample food and water to adequate clothing and a roof over our head. We need to always be aware of our Blessings, and thankful for them!

 Another issue, and this may be even more detrimental, is BLESSINGS ENVY/JEALOUSY. This can best be summed up by the sentiment, “How come Floyd is always getting Blessed and I never do?” Envy/Jealously is worse than Guilt for several reasons, including but not limited to:

• It is aimed at someone else.
• It can fester, ruining your relationship with the individual who is the target of your discontent.
• It will further hamper your receipt of God’s Blessings.

 Now, it is normal that we may wonder why, in fact, others do seem to be receiving more Blessings than we are. As a result, we may want to explore what the “prerequisites,” if you would, are for receiving Blessings. Here are five things you may want to consider as possibilities regarding your lack of what you consider “adequate” Blessings.

1.  You Aren’t Asking for Them

James 4:2 tells us, “You lust and do not have, so you kill. You desire to have and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have, because you do not ask.” While the latter part of this verse is often quoted, albeit with the paraphrase, “You have not because you ask not,”

I believe it is imperative that we also take a look at

James 4:3 – “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” Obviously, the motive behind our asking is a paramount concern as well!

 You Aren’t Blessing Others – As I am sure you know, one of the principals that our Faith Walk revolves around is

Gal. 6:7– “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” As a result, if we want to “reap” Blessings then we need to also “sow” them!! The Old Testament version of this verse is found in

Proverbs 11:25 – “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.”

•  You Aren’t Honoring Your Parents – I realize you may be thinking, “Hold on thar, Floyder – – What the smash does Blessings have to do with the way we treat our Parents?” Welllll – – This is such an important issue that it made it as one of the “Big Ten,” as we see in

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

 As a very old parent myself, I would  like to point out that this “Honor” is due  parents the entirety of their lives – –

 NOT just while you are living under their  roof! I am pleased to say that Chris and I  have received such Honor from our  children. Even when Matt was in the midst  of the darkest part of his life, he never failed  to give us Honor! As a result, he and his  family are now being Blessed in their Faith  Walk!

•  You Aren’t Keeping God’s Commandments

The importance of this sentiment is summed up most adroitly in

Exodus 20:6 where it says that He loves “showing Mercy to Thousands, to those who Love Me and Keep My Commandments.”

•  You Simply Aren’t in Christ – I feel that there may be those who think they are Christians but who, quite frankly, have not asked Him into their lives! If this IS the case, though they may expect Blessings they are, quite frankly, not entitled to them!

 As you can see, discovering the key to why you are receiving what you may consider “minimal” Blessings often takes a tremendous amount of introspection! And, as you also can see, discovering the answers may not be particularly palatable! However, correcting the issues at hand will not only provide you with more Blessings, but improve your over-all Faith Walk as well!!!

(Tune in next time when we will take a look at “Ten Prerequisites for Answered Prayer!)

 [Information for this dissertation was gleaned from 5 things Christians must do to receive the blessing of God (christiantoday.com) ]