Page 11 - August 2025 - Truth & Tidings

To Be…Blessed…Or Not to Be between the loss suffered by those who
We all just want to be blessed. Some lack discernment and the blessing re-
attend church or search out a religious ceived by those who display it. While
many considerations could be made, two
ceremony or experience in order that they obvious areas of blessing experienced by
may feel that, having participated, they a discerning person are in the secular and
have been blessed. While there are many spiritual realms of our lives.
sources of blessing according to Scripture,
one very consistent theme is that there is Secular Blessing
blessing found in displaying discernment. When someone has discerning char-
The book of Proverbs is full of blessings
that are found for those who have under- acter, it can often lead to blessing in the
standing, which is really another term for secular realm. While God is sovereign
discernment. Discernment can be defined and over all, we see biblical examples of
biblically as the careful consideration those who were praised and promoted
for demonstrating this characteristic of
and scrutinization of a matter, the judg-
ing of a decision by making a distinction discernment. Since God has endowed each
between two sides of the equation. So, person with free will, we are responsible
the wise person will do this, will discern to act in a way that is conformed to His
a matter, which often leads to blessing. Word and character if we desire to see the
On the other hand, the fool makes rash, biggest blessing that God desires for us.
“We know that all things work together
unweighted decisions, often considering
short-term gratification over long-term for good to those who love God” (Rom
consequences. “Wisdom is found on the 8:28). One of the desires that God has
lips of him who has understanding, but a for us is that we would display discern-
rod is for the back of him who is devoid ment in our lives. We see an example of
this when, during times of difficulty and
of understanding. Wise people store up
knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish famine, Pharaoh chose Joseph to be his
is near destruction” (Pro 10:13-14). “In second-in-command. He didn’t choose
1
the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but him because he was a smooth talker or
the lips of the wise will preserve them” because he was the best dressed, but rather
his criteria was, in his own words, discern-
(14:3). So we see very clearly the contrast
ment: “Inasmuch as God has shown you
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the all this, there is no one as discerning and
NKJV. wise as you. You shall be over my house,
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