It may seem strange to you, but do you know that a blessing from God could lead to our destruction? Yet, this truth is taught repeatedly throughout the Bible. Take time to consider the following thoughts to see how God warns us that His blessings can destroy us.
After forty years in the wilderness, the Jews were ready to enter the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses told them, “It shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land…to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—then beware…” (Deut. 6:10-12). Beware? How could there be any danger in these blessings?
Read the rest of the verse. “Beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Even Solomon understood the dangers of material blessings from God. He prayed to God to not make him rich. “Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the Lord’” (Prov. 30:8-9).
Think of the blessing of knowing the Bible. We spend hours studying the Bible, and God rewards us, for He has made the Bible so understandable. Yet, inherent within this blessing is that which can destroy us. Paul said, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know” (1 Cor. 8:1-2). One may know a great deal of the Bible and can become proud that he knows it better than others. One of the great dangers the Lord’s church faces is those “scholars” who have failed to see how little they actually know.
Is leadership in the church a great blessing? Absolutely, but inherent within this blessing is that which can destroy a person. Think of the blessing of being an apostle, yet they argued who would be the greatest one. “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them… ‘He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger and he who governs as he who serves’” (Luke 22:24, 26). Jealousy over leadership turns a blessing into destruction.
How do blessings lead to our destruction? It happens every time we take the blessing and think we are “owed” the blessing. The blessing of the promised land became a curse to puffed-up Israel. Knowledge of the Old Testament became a curse to the scribes and Pharisees. Honor bestowed upon a leader becomes a curse to one who elevates himself above others. Thank God for His blessings. Never let them destroy you!