Why should God bless US??

"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" (Psalm 68:19, NKJ)

WOW! I love this verse, even though other versions translate differently. But doesn't that sound a bit cocky? Who are we to think that the almighty God, the Creator of the universe, should choose to bless us. Besides, we mess up so often!

And doesn't this blessing bit sound rather selfish? Why should we expect God's blessing when others suffer?... and we become happy and content and satisfied?

And personally, why should God bless me with these beautiful birds everyday, while others on the other side of the world are experiencing their cold, bleak winter, and most wildlife have either hibenated or gone south??

Well, I picked up a book the other night by John Stott.... a beautiful book on Psalms with wonderful pics of the holy land, called "Favourite Psalms". I picked it up mainly to look at the photographs... then I started reading. I read his commentary on Psalm 67, the previous Psalm, and he addresses this same question.

He suggests two unselfish reasons for desiring God's blessings.

Firstly, so "that though us His salvation may be known to all humankind!"

"May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us;
may Your ways be known on earth,
Your salvation among the nations."
(Psalm 67:1-2, NIV)

Secondly, so "that they too should come to worship and praise God... that they should praise Him for Himself!"

"May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise You.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth." (v.3-4, NIV)

So, the reason for blessings is to BE a blessing. As God said to Abraham, "In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." And of course, that blessing came to us through God's Son, Jesus.

"Through the work of Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, and we Christians receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:14, NLT)