God's blessings

A friend was wondering this week if a random telemarketing offer of a bargain travel deal is God's blessing for tithing faithfully. In the face of consumerism and increased exposure to prosperity, I'm wary of any Christians making such an assertion. Not that I don't believe God could bless us in such a way, but it seems too hasty to draw that conclusion out of such circumstance.

We can easily fall into a trap of thinking that it's God blessing us every time say, for example, when I see something I want go on sale in the store.  Or something that I think is good happens. The danger of this is that we are making God our excuse for granting ourselves desires of our heart. What we think is good doesn't necessary mean that God thinks that it's good too. In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus told his disciples who are to be blessed and who will be in trouble. This clearly doesn't only include good things.

It's true that the scripture also says all good things come from God. But good in a way that causes us to ripe spiritual benefits and that include bad things in our eyes. Or else why would James asks us to count it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds? Because as he explains, it will build our character so that we may be mature spiritually.

So if something, however good it may look to us, if it doesn't deepen our relationship with Christ, I'm more inclined to think that it's from us and not God.

An old hymn "Count your blessings" sums it up well.

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven
Nor your home on high