The scripture says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). Anything God gives comes from the heavens, not from the earth. Many people have mistaken the things from above with the things of this earth, such as houses, cars, jobs, or any material thing, which are substances of the material world.

Neither of these things are given from God, simply because they can be obtained without him. Any one without the slightest knowledge of God can get a house or a car, and even a good job, which standard American society is built upon. Yet, the things received from God can only be received with the knowledge of what God can, and will give.

What comes from above? What is Righteousness made of? There is nothing in the heavens that must be purchased with the wages of a day's work, but received through the process of faith. God does not pass out bonuses or pay raises; he gives fruits of the spirit that are profitable for the soul.

Love, peace and soundness of mind, and joy of the heart are blessings that come from above, and neither of these can be purchased with cash. This is where many believers of Christ make the mistake of determining what a true blessing is. When people recite what blessings they have received, they talk of how God has blessed them with a home, a new car, or some other material thing, and they never really thank him for awaking that day.

As a rebuttal to this simple theory many people will go to the scriptures and recite the one that says, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." That is true, the earth is the Lords and everything that is in it, yet there is also a scripture that warns us not to lay up for yourselves treasures upon this earth. "Love not the world, neither the things of the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). The Lord makes sure that his children have the necessities of life and life is a blessing in itself because he gives us those necessities even when all others have lost theirs. In the face of famine and draught, God will sustain his people.

Life is a blessing. It was given from above. When any soul gets to the point where they have taken for granted the good things about life and has placed the receiving of material things over the daily miracles of life, then that person can never really appreciate God. They only worship God for the material things they receive from God, and they count these things as life.

Many preachers have taken advantage of this mistaken notion of God. They preach good fortune and prosperity to congregations encouraging them to tithe and give constantly so that God will bless them for their efforts. This is not the only way to receive a blessing from God, by giving money. Nevertheless, this is what preachers have convinced followers to do. Common knowledge says that if people tithe and give money to the church expecting a blessing from God, in actuality, the pastor of the church are the only one who benefits.

Many will refute this statement by saying the church also benefits, but how is the church benefiting, from things of the earth, or from things above? If the church benefits it should benefit from receiving things from above. This means that the members would be the most powerful and loving people on the earth, yet, if they believe that material things are the blessings they receive: then they have not received anything from God.

It takes faith to receive anything from God. Whether one ask for it or tithe for it, if there is no faith to receive it then it will not be. Even if a person ask for something spiritual, if they do not have faith to receive it, then they will not receive it. If someone truly wants a blessing from God, one must first know how to receive it.

Wisdom is a blessing that God gives a person, which will lead them to spend wisely. Knowledge is a blessing from God that will lead a person to information for the things they need. Love is a blessing that enables a person to defeat any negative or depressing spirits or influences in their life and it strengthens the self-esteem. Patience and temperance are also blessings from above that help a person cope with day-to-day trials and in many situations.

All these are spiritual blessings from above that gird a person to endure the trials of life. Without these heavenly attributes, one could never appreciate life as a whole and they will be consumed with the cares and worries of this world. These attributes are things every believer should be thankful for and stand up to testify about, not what material things they have received or how by chance they received an extra something in the bank account.

Those type gifts are base more on the natural laws of sowing and reaping. If a person works they will receive the rewards of life, that is how society is set up. Anyone can obtain material things by working. The necessities of life that God gives are what one should be thankful for and all the fruits of above.

"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matthew 6:27). In other words, one cannot have any more than what God has in store for them anyway, so be thankful for the blessing of life and the fact of having any knowledge of God.

To know God is more than any material thing. To awake each day and to have good health are blessings from above. Once a believer begin to believe that God is only in the business of giving material things, and they measure their growth in God by what they own and by what others do not own, a false spirit, or an Anti-Christ has deceived them.

Is very important to know God's will for his children's life first before assuming that he is here to shower a person with gifts. God is good, merciful, and just, and the world can be cruel and deceitful, so realize that the things from above can only be gotten through faith. That is a blessing.

© 2005 By Sound Doctrine Inc.