The Blessings only come when we look for them
Written by: Rev. Bruce L. Miller
1 Kings 3:11-13
11. Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice,
12. "behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
13. "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
When we look at the story of Solomon we can see that number one, Solomon looked out for the needs of others before himself.
I think a lot of times we do not receive the blessings of God because we are more concerned about our needs than others.
When God visited Solomon in his dreams he asked him this question, what is it that you want?
God said, I would give you anything.
Solomon had a heart for his people he wanted to be the best leader he could be.
The one thing all great leaders need is wisdom so we can lead the people we have around us.
Solomon made his request to God
God wants to know what our desires are but he also wants to know where your heart is.
If it is only on self and not anyone else Gods blessings will not materialize in your life.
But look at the story of Solomon carefully; his first desire was for other people.
This pleased God, and this is why God told Solomon, because you have said this thing
I will not just give you wisdom but a bonus because you pleased me in the things you look for in life so God gave him riches.
And think about this he didn’t even ask for it. Maybe it’s not always what we ask for but why we asked for it.
Let us go ahead and look at another Scripture:
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
One of the other things we need to look at to obtain our blessings from God are found:
In the book of Matthew
3 Basic Rules
1. First seek the kingdom of God, which means you have to be saved and looking for God in your life.
2. You have to look for the righteousness of God in your life
3. And then all of these blessings that God has for you will be yours.
To obtain Gods blessings there are Biblical foundations we have to apply first.
So many people think that just because they are saved, God’s blessings are there.
But there’s more to it than just that, it’s how you live your life after you get saved that count.
Does your life represent God or not? Are you living the life of righteousness you should be?
Do you have a real relationship through prayer with God?
Let’s take a look at another Scripture.
1 Kings 17:13
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
I want you to notice the similarity to the story of Solomon. Solomon looked for the needs of others first.
The widow woman looked also for the needs of others. She left us this example by helping Elijah, and because she did not hold back a blessing from Elijah, she herself received the one thing she did not have and that was food.
To obtain the blessings of God you have to be a giver not just a taker.
So many of us lose our blessings because we say we cannot afford to help others or to give to others but when we do this it stop God’s blessing in our life’s.
I want to look at another Scripture
Malachi 3:8 – 12
8. "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, `How have we robbed Thee?' In tithes and offerings.
9. "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
10. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
11. "Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it may not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the Lord of hosts.
12. "And all the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land," says the Lord of hosts.
This is one of the other problems that some Christians have, they want the blessings of God but they don’t want to give.
There are a lot of people out there that want the blessings of God but in reality they are just takers.
They tell God give me what I need and the things I have to have but they never think about the needs God’s has or his people.
You may ask how can God have need of my money? It is not a matter if God needs your money or not, it is a matter of your obedience to God’s Word.
We can come up with all kinds of excuses why we should not pay our Tithes and Offerings but I can give you one reason you need too. If you want the blessings of God then obey God commandments.
We are deceived if we think we are blessed of God, if we do not pay our Tithes and give our Love Offerings to God.
Why do you think the Bible says?
God loves a cheerful giver
2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
You will never reap the full harvest or the full blessing until you plant the seed of obedience.
If you eat the seed you won’t be able to plant the seed.
2 Chronicles 31:20 - 21
20. And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God.
21. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.
The only way that we will receive the blessings from God is when we serve him with all of your hearts.
You want to prosper you want the blessings of God then serve God with all of your heart.
Why should we expect the blessings of God if we don’t deserve it?
Leviticus 25:20 - 21
20. And if ye shall say, what shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:
21. Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.
God can command a blessing in your life for the Bible says: “ he commanded a blessing” and he can do the same thing in your life.
If you’re looking for a blessing your find it but only if we live the life that is pleasing to God.
I want you to understand one thing, obtaining the blessings of God sometimes takes time.
God will not always give you what you want but he will give you for sure what you need.
We have to learn the difference between our needs and our greed’s.
I know the Bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart but not until you know-how to handle them.
For instance he will not give you $1 million dollars until you are mature enough to handle it.
But that doesn’t mean that you should not be looking for it.
The reason God does not always give us everything we want, Is because we then would not have a need for him.
Psalms 34:9
9. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
If you keep seeking God it says in his word “he will not withhold any good thing from you.”
But we have to be seeking God in order for this to happen.
God’s promises are forever and his blessings are yours.
But we have to look for them.
They will not be handed to us on a silver platter.
Every person that is blessed of God serves God with all his heart.
I encourage you to do what Matthew 6:33 says:
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all of its righteousness, and all of these things will be added unto you.
