Most of us see being blessed as getting that raise or job we’ve been praying for or being able to afford the things we want. But God’s true meaning of being blessed isn’t about what we can gain. So what does it mean to be blessed?

For the past few months, I’ve been praying and asking God to bless me by giving me a promotion at my job. I’ve accomplished a lot for my company; from helping them create great products, growing their customer reach, and creating insightful strategies and reports.

I thought I was getting closer to God finally answering my prayers when all my managers gave me great performance feedback and said I have helped the company reach the next level.

But to my disappointment, I didn’t get the promotion.

I went to God angry and confused. “God, how could you not allow me to get a promotion? You know the hard work and passion I’ve put into this company, why have you not blessed me?” But it was during my time alone with God when he said to me, I have blessed you.

It was in that moment when I realized God has blessed me. He has used me to bless the company and help them grow like they never had before since I’ve worked there. God’s version of blessing me and shining his face upon me at work was me being kind to the unkind co-worker, serving my best to others even if it wasn’t to my own advantage, and rejoicing in others promotion even if it didn’t include my own.

God’s intention of blessing me wasn’t for my own selfish agenda, but to bless others and make his ways known.

God’s purpose of blessing us is to make us a blessing for others. 

Psalm 67:1-2 says, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us – so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations.” God’s purpose of blessing us and making his face shine upon us is not to shine it on our own lives, but to shine it on him. God blesses us so that his ways may be known and glorified by all.

The world may define being blessed as what you can gain, but it’s when you can bless others that you’ve truly become a blessing. Paul, an apostle of Jesus says in Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Paul dedicated his life to serving others and sharing the goodness of God to bless others. Until today, many lives have been touched and transformed from his sacrifice.

Paul’s life shows us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Paul could have spent his life working and gaining a lot of money to buy himself a nice house, but Paul having a nice house of his own wouldn’t have blessed the millions of lives that have been touched by his ministry. Paul understood what it meant to be blessed, and we too can be blessed like Paul.

God desires to make you a blessing – to use you to transform your community and those around you through living a life as Jesus did and sharing his good news.

Have you realized that you are blessed by God and have the potential to transform your world? Will you surrender your life to God so that he can use you as a blessing? 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “…What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—“.

God has amazing plans for your life beyond what you see today. Ask God to open your heart and eyes to see from his perspective and live out the plans he has for you. So remember, you are blessed when you can bless others. 

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you have blessed me so that I can be a blessing to others.