Counting True Blessings

Jesus told a parable about a rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). This man had ground that yielded plentifully (v.16). He had no room to store his abundance (v.17). He decided to tear down his barns and build greater (v.18). Then his plans were to take his ease, to eat, drink, and be merry (v.19).

God responded to the rich man by saying, "You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" (v.20). Jesus ended this parable saying, "So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (v.21).

The moral of the parable is straightforward and easy to understand. As Jesus said (Matt. 6:20), we ought to lay up our treasures in heaven. He also said later in Luke 12:23 - "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." Putting these things together, we can know that Jesus was explaining the foolishness of depending on earthly goods. 1 John 2:17 brings it to us this way - "And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

As I was thinking about this parable something occurred to me. I realized that perhaps our failure to count blessings is not our biggest problem. The successful farmer counted and was even ready to prepare for storage. Our problem is not in counting, but it is in learning to define blessings. When you think of your blessings, what do you think of? Often times we think more of the physical goods that we possess. But do we thank God for our health and spiritual welfare? Do we thank God for hope, joy, peace, or His promises, or the comfort that we find in the scriptures? What about the promise of eternity to come?

If you had to give up almost every blessing you've ever been granted this very night, which blessings would you chose to give away? Which ones would you insist on keeping? It may be that tonight your life will end. It is also true that Jesus could come at any minute. Does this make a difference in your choice?

As a dear friend of mine lay sick in the hospital this week I thanked God

for all of His wonderful blessings, the ones that have nothing to do with things seen. I thanked Him for the gifts that really mattered, the blessings that I hope we are all clinging to, because they are the only blessings that will never be taken away.

Don't be foolish. Don't just count your blessings - make sure they're blessings that count!

~ "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." ~ Ephesians 1:3