Wonderful Words:
"Blessed"

Some time ago we mentioned the word “bless” and how it means to “praise”, to “speak well of”, to “eulogise over”, and is the Greek word eulogia . However, there is another Greek word which is also translated “bless” and that is makarios .

This is the word used in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, where such people as the “poor in spirit” are said to be blessed , and the reason given is that “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Similarly the “meek” are blessed because “they will inherit the earth”. But what does this word bless mean?

Basically it means to “be happy”, so the Beatitudes could read:

• Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
• Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• Happy are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
• Happy are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
• Happy are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Thus our Lord Jesus was telling the Jews of His day—who were the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, the pure in heart and those who would hunger and thirst after righteousness—to be happy. Why? Because sometime in the future, when the Lord comes to set up His kingdom on this earth, they will inherit the earth and see God. Theirs will be the kingdom and they shall be called the sons of God. They will be comforted and shown mercy. If all that did not make them happy , then nothing would.

However, our Lord Jesus Christ also said something else about being blessed or happy . We read about it in Acts 20:35: "It is more blessed to give than to receive".

In other words, we get more happiness by giving than we do from receiving! Is that true?

Our answer to that question depends upon our maturity. In the physical world this is easily seen to be true. Little children love receiving presents, yet never think of giving. They have to be taught to reciprocate by making little gifts for Nanny or buying a present for Granddad. And teenagers, well they are a law unto themselves!

Quite often it isn't until we are parents that we begin to appreciate just how much happiness and satisfaction there is in giving and, of course, by the time we are grandparents it has become a great joy.

But what about us as Christians? Do we get great happiness out of giving; out of giving to others, or to church, or to other Christian organizations like The Open Bible Trust? We should, and giving can be a great source of happiness and contentment, and that should not surprise us, even if it takes some of us a long time to learn.