I suppose one of these days, I’ll actually get off of these verses. Maybe even tomorrow.
It’s very interesting here that God actually offers Abram what he denied the people of Babel—a great nation, and a name that would last. Which I guess goes to prove that these things aren’t bad in themselves.
But what’s even more interesting to me is what God added: “You will be a blessing… all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
God didn’t just want to bless Abram, but he wanted Abram to be a blessing to the people around him. Of course, this ultimately came through one of Abram’s descendants, Jesus himself.
But even while Abram was living on the earth, God’s desire for him was that he be a blessing to others.
So often, Christians pray, “Lord, bless me!” But how often do we pray, “Lord, let me be a blessing?”
“Let me be a blessing to my wife. To my husband. To my kids. To the people at church. To the people at work. To the people in my neighborhood.”
The funny thing is that as we are a blessing to others, we find that we ourselves become blessed as well.
It says in Proverbs 11:25,
The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.” (NASB)
The NIV puts it another way:
He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Lord, sometimes it’s so easy to get wrapped up with myself, asking for my needs and my wants to be met. But change me.
I ask not that you bless me. Rather, I pray that I may be a blessing to the people around me. That when people come away from me, they come away from me refreshed, and encouraged.
Let me be a blessing to my wife, to my daughter, to my coworkers, to the people at church, and to the people in my neighborhood.
More than anything, may they see you in me, and may they become attracted to you because of me. Get my eyes off of myself, and onto the people you have placed in my life. Change my heart.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 