Articles
Count Your Many Blessings -- Then Weigh Them
The old suggestion that you count your blessings in the midst of difficult times is a good one. Any realistic person who will sit down and begin to number his or her blessings will soon discover that they are many. In fact, one might discover that they are so numerous that it is virtually impossible to literally "name them one by one". Even after the list is very long and we think we've made the last entry we realize that we've left something out. Job encountered this "problem" when he attempted to make the count while he was in the midst of great distress.
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number: Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety (Job 5:8-11). Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number (Job 9:10).
But some pessimist might want to argue that his or her list of problems is equally long. When he compiles his list of problems he is always able to think of one more item to add. You would have a difficult time convincing him that his blessings outnumber his difficulties and it would be a lengthy debate. For every blessing he could find a problem. Both lists would, like the energizer bunny, keep going and going. Simply counting the number of items on the two lists may not be enough to bring relief to some who are dedicated to the proposition that problems are things to nurture while blessings are things to minimize.
It would be a helpful thing if we could discipline ourselves to compare our problems with our blessings and to assign some relative weight to each when compared with the other. If we would make a short list of our greatest blessings and compare them with our short list of worst problems we would soon find that our blessings far outweigh our problems. Paul was reckoning correctly and by inspiration when he measured the relative weight of the two.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
Moses weighed the affliction that he suffered with the people of God and compared it with the reward that awaited him in heaven. He saw that the value of the eternal reward far outweighed the temporary affliction. He looked "at others with their lands and gold" and thought that Christ had promised him "His wealth untold". He realized that "money cannot buy" his "reward in heaven" nor his "home on high".
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Would you trade your worst problems for your greatest blessings? Would you give up the promise of eternal life for the eradication of your temporary grief or pain? Would you exchange your life itself for the luxury of not having a flat tire? Would you give up the love of your family in exchange for a day without disrespect or unkindness from others?
Would you trade (fill in the blank with any of your greatest blessings) ________________________ for the removal of (fill in the blank with any of your worst problems) __________________________? No, you would not. Your blessings always outweigh your problems.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18).
