Mom was discouraged … again. We lived hundreds of miles apart, so I called her regularly. My mom felt worthless, she was feeling ‘flauw’ all the time, nobody visited her, and so on. What was I to do or say? I simply asked about some older people at church and about her friends’ dog that she occasionally took care of. I suggested that these people might like a visit and that her friends might like to have their dog taken care of during a trip they were planning. “I guess,” she said. A couple weeks later, I called mom again. She was quite chipper. She was feeling good. And then she went into great detail about the visits she made and the nickname she gave the dog. What mom needed was to get her mind off herself and look for ways to bless others.

Biblical Review

As I look through the Bible, I see that this is what God intended for us: to be a blessing. Adam and Eve (the first human couple) were called to take care of the world, not just sit around eating fruit off the tree. When God called Abraham and said “I will bless you,” the second half of that verse can be translated as “and you be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). Which he did by helping his pagan neighbors, rescuing his family along with many others, etc. Abraham’s (spiritual) descendants would also be a blessing – Genesis 26:4

Many recite the verse of Jeremiah 29:11, that God’s plans for us include giving us hope and a future. This was originally told to God’s people after being captured in war and brought into exile in a foreign land. God tells them that he had this exile happen (29:4) and that while they are there, they are to seek the good of that land (29:7) – that is, to be a blessing.

Listening to Jesus’ sermon on the mount, he reminds us that we are to bless everyone, even those who want to harm us: Matthew 5:13-16,43-48. This theme is repeated in Acts 20:35 and in Romans 12:9-21 (especially :14). Wherever we are, whoever we are in contact with, the call of God continues for all who belong to Jesus – be a blessing.

Living It Out

This means developing a continual posture of trying to make the world a better place to live in. And it means that whenever we encounter other people, we strive to make their world better too. Here are some seed thoughts for doing this.

1. In the physical world: When hiking, pick up trash. Even in public restrooms and YMCA locker rooms, try to make them cleaner than when entering: pick up paper towels off the floor, shine the sink or mirrors. I probably won’t go as far as my brother-in-law who often rents cars on business trips: He washes and shines the rental cars before returning them.
2. During encounters with others, try to be kind, polite, and considerate. Say Hi to people in public places, even when they don’t expect it. Ask acquaintances how they are doing and truly listen. And don’t ever tell a story that can beat someone else’s story. A colleague once told me that when talking about wedding stories in a group of ministers, he makes sure that he does not take the approach: I’ll match your story and up you one. (By the way, if you are interested, ask me about a wedding that I had to do in a cornfield!)
3. In society, school, and the workplace: We can all strive to make this world a better place. Continually ask the question: How can I improve the place where I am working and contribute to it? When going to school, set your mind to try and make someone else have a better day. Look for ways to help someone in the store. When someone tells an inappropriate joke in a group, don’t laugh. Just politely smile. This can have a powerful effect on the tone of the group. The same with complaining about parents, teachers, bosses, customers, food, etc. Don’t join in. Try to mention something positive.
4. Point people to Jesus Christ. Mention occasionally your joy and peace because you know the Lord is in charge. No need to worry because God has a good plan. Look for an opportunity to tell how you are looking forward to Jesus coming back.

By following the call to be a blessing, we are doing what God created us to be and do. This gives us a special purpose in life. We can then look forward to each day. And don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly being chipper.

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John Gorter

Interim Pastor