Enjoying the Blessings of God to Their Fullest
Nehemiah 8:10
“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
There is no doubt God blesses His people for doing right. That is one of the reasons we do right because we enjoy receiving blessings. But, enjoying those blessings to their fullest is rarely realized because we don’t take those blessings and use them the way God wants.
God says in the verse above, “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:…” In this statement you will find the formula for enjoying God’s blessings to their fullest. After God blessed the remnant who rebuilt the wall, Nehemiah told them to enjoy those blessings, but to be sure to share them with those who did not receive the blessings. Let me give you a couple of thoughts that will help you to enjoy God’s blessings to their fullest.
First, don’t apologize for God’s blessings. It is sad that most people are embarrassed to talk about what the LORD has done for them out of fear of what jealous people will say. There is no reason to apologize for God’s blessings. If we were to look at the price you paid for those blessings, that price was probably great. Most people don’t understand the price people pay for the blessings of God. The reason people become jealous is because they want what you have without paying the same price. We must always remember that the more blessings that someone experiences from God, the greater the price they had to pay to get them. Never apologize for what God gave you; instead, give God the glory for His goodness.
Second, enjoy what God has given you. God didn’t bless you so that you can’t enjoy them. If God blesses you with a nice home, enjoy it. If God blesses you with a nice car, enjoy it. There is nothing to feel guilty about enjoying the blessings of God. Use those blessings for personal enjoyment. Nehemiah told the people to “eat the fat, and drink the sweet.” He was telling them to enjoy God’s blessings.
Third, share God’s blessings with those who are without. Here is the key to enjoying God’s blessings to their fullest. Notice that Nehemiah said, “…send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:…” One of the greatest reasons God blesses you is so that you may give of what you have to others. There is nothing better than to help someone who is without. Being able to take what God has blessed you with and share it with someone who is without will make the blessings of God greater. God blessed you in life not so that you can hoard your blessings to yourself, but so that you can share them with others. If you share them with others, you will find that God will keep the faucet of blessings open in your life.
Christian, let me caution you not to criticize those whom God has blessed. You never know what price they had to pay to realize those blessings. On the other hand, if you are the one whom God has blessed, then enjoy your blessings, but be sure to share them with those who are without. This is the key to enjoying God’s blessings to their fullest.