Happy New Year friends! Hope you had a refreshing time with your
family and friends during the Christmas and New Year celebrations/holidays.
With every new year, it is typical for people to pray for all kinds of
blessings. I did and I guess you did as well. But do you know that for every
blessing we receive, we need to be accountable and responsible?
Some years ago when my husband and I were trying for a baby, we prayed
for God to bless us with a child. It took more than a year before I could get
pregnant.
Naturally we were both overjoyed when I finally got pregnant. As the pregnancy progressed and I
started suffering from morning sickness, heartburn and all other pregnancy
illnesses, I began to grumble. I just couldn’t wait for the baby to be born and
for me to get it over with. After our son was born safely, I entered into another phase of
complaints: this time, of sleeplessness and tiredness.
It’s almost amusing that
this same person who was crying to God earlier, to bless her was suddenly
becoming overwhelmed and complaining as a result of the blessing she had received.
I totally forgot that this blessing had a responsibility attached to it and
that it would require hardwork, perseverance and faithfulness.
And I am not alone in this, I have seen people grumble about the jobs
they prayed very hard for. They do the jobs sloppily, get there late, complain
if their boss asks them to do something, etc. What about those who prayed to
get married or be in a relationship? The same story is repeated when they
eventually get that blessing. Same thing with getting an admission into a
school, and indeed getting anything one really wants.
I have come to realise that in life, every blessing that comes our way
has responsibility attached to it. Yes God wants us to be happy with the blessings He gives us, but those blessings need to be taken care of as well.
When Adam and Eve were in that lovely Garden
of Eden, God gave them responsibilities. Genesis 2:15 says, “The
Lord God took the man and put him in the
Garden of Eden to work it and take care
of it.”
It certainly wasn’t easy for Adam to take care of the Garden and all
the animals in it, but it was required. Notice here that God required responsibility from Adam even before the Fall, so it clearly is not a bad thing. I think its God's way of having us work in partnership with Him. If God did everything for us, without us being involved, we would never grow or appreciate it enough.
I see that in my toddler son when he puts on his clothes or shoes
by himself. He doesn't always like it when I do it for him. He has a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem whenever he gets it right. He also knows mum is always nearby to help if he can't manage alone. Imagine if I never allowed him to do that. He would never learn and I may have to keep dressing him up for ever!
As a perfect parent, God gives us opportunities for growth via responsibilities. It is rarely easy, but the right
attitude can make it better or worse. I think that when we submit to God and depend on Him while carrying
out the responsibilities attached to the blessings He has given us, He makes it
easier. It becomes frustratingly difficult when we think we know everything and can manage alone. The Bible says in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If
you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Prior to the Fall,
work was satisfying to Adam & Eve, but it became more difficult due to their
disobedience. If we approach our responsibilities with trust in God and total
dependence on Him, He strengthens us to be excellent and not overwhelmed.
And so I encourage you, don’t grumble because of the responsibilities
that come with the blessings you have. Remember how much you prayed to have
them in the past. And see the responsibilities attached as a partnership with God to grow and become better. Then ask God for help to be a faithful and wise steward of
those blessings. Our God delights to help us and has promised, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and
you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
May God help us to
view His blessings and the responsibilities attached, in a new light this year. Amen.
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Image1 courtesy: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2013/03/Blessing.jpg
Image2 courtesy: http://agapegeek.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/responsibility5.jpg
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