Responding to God’s Blessings

2 Chronicles 32:25
“But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.”

Hezekiah was a good king for most of his reign, and really only has one blot on his testimony, but that one blot is very glaring for all to see. Hezekiah was one of two kings who helped bring revival to Judah. Hezekiah’s trust in God when Sennacherib came to invade Judah is what allowed him to see the victory over this wicked king. If Hezekiah’s life story ended here, he would be someone we all could say that he did right till the day of his death.

However, Hezekiah’s life story did not end with the victory over Sennacherib. The next act in Hezekiah’s life is found in the verse above. His next act was, “…his heart was lifted up…” Instead of continuing to do right after this great victory, he was filled with pride to his own detriment. Instead of being humbled that God would work through him, he was filled with pride and thought that he was something. He took the credit for something that God did. Several lessons can be learned about responding to God’s blessings.

First, God’s blessings have nothing to do with how great you are, but everything to do with how merciful and great God is. Don’t think that you are something because God has blessed you, but remember that God is merciful even to bless you. It is easy to look at God’s blessings on your life and start thinking that you are something more than what you really are. Remember, at best, you are still a sinner. God’s blessings don’t make you a great Christian. You must be careful not to take credit for God being merciful enough to bless you.

Second, past performance doesn’t make you a great Christian today. Many live in the past instead of continuing to do what they did to bring God’s blessings on them. Just because you did something ten years ago doesn’t mean that you are still what you were ten years ago. Living in your past performance without doing anything for God today makes you a very ungrateful believer. You have a poor resume if all you have to talk about is what you did yesterday. The best thing you can do to keep the blessings from yesterday is to do what you did yesterday today.

Third, your response to God’s blessings will affect God’s choice to bless. God stopped blessing Hezekiah because he stopped doing what brought God’s blessings on his life in the first place. God is a responder. The blessings of today are a result of God blessing you for yesterday, and His blessing, or lack thereof, tomorrow will be a result of what you do today.

My friend, the best thing you can do is to keep doing today what brought God’s blessings on your life. Don’t stay focused on the blessings, but on the merciful God who would even bless you. If you always keep in mind that you are not as great as your flesh would like you to believe, you will be able to keep the right mindset that will keep you doing what it takes to keep receiving God’s blessings.

Have you had some success in your life? Pastor, have you seen some victories in your ministry? Believer, have you had a little success in your business or ministry? Don’t let it go to your head to cause you to think that you are something. Stay humble, keep working, and be honored that God would use you, and you will find that God will continue to be merciful to bless you. The best response to God’s blessings is to thank God and move on.