Seven keys to divine blessing

“For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” This could be the comment of a journalist on the social and economic injustice in the world, the Chief Apostle said during the divine service on 10 April in Bogotá in Colombia. But it is actually a statement from Jesus (Mark 4: 25).

In the New Testament, Jesus regularly takes this seeming contradiction up in order to show that to obtain divine salvation we must meet certain conditions. This is not a guarantee for salvation, he said, but the foundation for it. The Chief Apostle listed seven keys to blessing.

First key: faith

“Nobody can be saved without faith.” But there is more to faith than just believing that Jesus is the Son of God. It also means that we are to trust in His word and His love. It is this trust that helps us to preserve our faith when things turn out differently than we expected.

Second key: thankfulness

“Everything we have we owe to God.” It is grace. “Thankfulness is the key to more blessing.” Thankfulness safeguards against the tendency to take the gifts of God for granted, and appreciating them less and less, and always wanting more.

Third key: readiness to learn

With the gift of the Holy Spirit the believer also received the ability to recognize and understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. We should use this gift, he said. “Let us accept that we do not know everything.” But it is important that we are still willing to learn and grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Fourth key: helping along

Everyone has received different gifts from God. And everyone is called upon to use these gifts. “We have to invest them in the work of God and to serve God in the congregations so that the blessing can be multiplied.” And those who have not received the talent to preach or sing or any other practical talents have received the gift of love. Everyone has received this.

Fifth key: bearers of blessing

The miraculous multiplication of oil at the time of Elisha was only limited by the number of vessels the poor widow was able to borrow from her neighbours upon the prophet’s request. “You need sources of blessing, vessels of blessing to be blessed.” And: “God uses our brothers and sisters as a source of blessing for us. Let us therefore accept and love our neighbour so that he can be a blessing.”

Sixth key: love for our neighbour

“If we always content ourselves with waiting for love we will not get much love.” Let us apply the divine rule: “The more you love, the more love you will get.”

Seventh key: repentance

Another divine rule is: “The more repentant we are, the more grace we will get.” Repentance is much more than the fear of punishment. It involves the firm resolve to overcome evil and the sincere will to reconcile with one’s neighbour.

The Chief Apostle concluded: “Let us follow this way: we will get the fullness of blessing and will be saved.”