“What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Esther 6:6

In Australia, each year people are honoured for their public service, contribution to society or for outstanding deeds. As parents, we might buy a special treat for a child whose behaviour has been exemplary. Likewise spiritually sometimes God chooses to honour his children. “How great is your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men …” (Psalm 31:19).

What is our response when we see God pour out his blessing or a particular person or a church other than ours? Are we angry like the elder brother who said, “Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends”? (Luke 15:29). God is God, he can bless anyone he wants with whatever sort of blessing he chooses. Still, we can become better candidates for God’s blessings.

In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) Jesus teaches us that there are eight attitudes we can adopt to be “blessed.” But sometimes it’s even simpler we just need to become like little children who accept gifts without reservation, without thought of reciprocation and with eager anticipation. It has been said that God wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed. Yet, sometimes we are reluctant, receiving from God makes us feel vulnerable.

“We are told to rejoice with those that rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Surprisingly it’s often easier to mourn with those that mourn than to rejoice with those God has chosen to honour.