So You Want to Be Blessed? Are You Sure?

So You Want to Be Blessed?  Are You Sure?

People, we've got it so twisted.  Isn't it amazing how so many of us claim to be Christians (aka followers of Christ) and yet fame and fortune are, for lots of us, our biggest priorities?  Televangelists continuously preach on the topic of prosperity, while gospel music artists compete with the secular music artists to see who can rock the most bling.  These days, heartfelt testimonies consist of the size of our new house and retail price of our luxury cars while local churches appear to only get a lasting rise out of its members if financial gain is the topic of the sermon.

Ironically, we denounce the world for not being doers of a Word they don't read nearly as much as we claim to and yet somehow we've missed the reminder in Luke 18:25, "I'd say it's easier to thread a camel through a needle's eye than get a rich person into God's kingdom."

What's really amazing is that rather than be honest with ourselves and admit that we want all of the perks that this world has to offer, we would rather manipulate things by using humble jargon like "We just want to be blessed."  Blessed.  Blessed?  Hmm, I'm not so sure.

A couple of days ago, I was reading an interview with  the very rich, very famous, multi-platinum selling R&B artist, Beyonce in the October edition of Essence and she said something that surprisingly impressed me and also moved me to reprioritize my life (more specifically some of the things on my prayer request list):

"With no plans for D.C ahead of her, Beyonce is making plans for herself.  Next February, she stars opposite veterans Steve Martin and Kevin Kline in the remake of the "Pink Panther", and the next month she starts rehearsing for the much-anticipated film version of the Broadway musical, "Dreamgirls", opposite Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy.  But she's also searching for something deeper, something she can barely articulate: a purpose, a reason, a mission.

I want to take advantage of my celebrity to do something more than write songs that inspires people," she pauses.  "I mean, that's important.  People have come to us and told us that we changed their lives, and we've helped them to get out of bad relationships.  Or they were alcoholics and listened to "Survivor" and now that's their theme song.  Which is really great.  But there's something beyond this.  Whether it's working with kids or going to Africaevery year to raise awareness, or maybe just becoming a mother.  I want to make my mark…

All of this craziness," says Beyonce, "is for is for a reason.  I just haven't figured out what yet."

Here is a woman who has many of the things that we all quietly envy and/or pray for and she wants more.  Even with all of the magazine covers that she's graced, press interviews she's done, couture clothing freebies she gets and crazy-money royalty checks that she receives, she is saying that she wants to make her mark on the world.  Through carnal eyesight, it would appear that she already has, but to those with vision, her remarks are celebrated because she has a glimpse of something that many church goers have yet to see.  Sadly, while she wants something else out of her "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" life, we are equating all of the things that she has with being "blessed".  Like I said, we have got it so twisted. 

Am I saying that there's anything wrong with wanting the finer things in life?  Certainly not.  I'm just saying that many (if not most) of us have the wrong insight into what those things actually are. When the rent's due, when our heart's broken, when there are unanswered questions, when things are not going as planned or don't make sense, we tend to think that we are waiting on our blessing to arrive but according to the Beatitudes (something we all should spend more time focusing on), it is during these times when we may actually be the most fulfilled:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being "care full,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that--count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens--give a cheer, even!-for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."---Matthew 5:3-12

If you think that you are being attacked by the Enemy, please don't let your bank account or the popularity (or lack thereof) amongst your peers be the evidence of that.  If you define your success by the world's standards, if being praised and receiving numerous accolades for the gifts that God gave you is your secret desire, if being on Oprah or VH-1's "Fabulous Life of…" is what you consider to be your personal pique in life, then be honest with God (cause He knows it anyway): You don't want to be blessed, you want to be common---you want what the world has already done time and time again.

The beauty in Beyonce's statement is that she's aware that while, by the world's standards, she's accomplished a lot, it's really nothing new.  She is not impressed by what everyone says she's done or is because there's something inside of her that's telling her there's more to life than gaining the world's approval.  The sad thing is that we are not hearing more of us say these exact same words; that we want to make the mark on the world that God sent us here to make and if, like Jesus, it causes us to suffer persecution, financial instability, or personal comfort, we will do it because anything that distracts us from God's purpose for our lives just ain't worth it.  No matter how much it blings or brings. 

This week, you may be asking God to bless you as you are wondering why you are going through so many tests of your flesh, soul and spirit.  You may feel that God has forsaken you because it appears that everyone is living high off of the hog but you.  So many of us use the cliché, "I'm blessed" without really thinking about the power behind our words.  If you really want to live a blessed life, then be prepared for all that comes with it (the Beatitudes serve as a good reminder).

But if you simply want to be rich and famous, then pray for that instead and let the chips fall where they may.  I promise you'll want more (usually what true believers already have) eventually.

…they always do.

©Shellie R. Warren/2005