At age 16 Andor Foldes was already a skilled pianist, but he was experiencing a troubled year.  In the midst of the young Hungarian's personal struggles, one of the most renowned pianists of the day came to Budapest.  Emil von Sauer was famous not only for his abilities; he was also the last surviving pupil of Hungary's great pianist, Franz Liszt.  Von Sauer requested that Foldes play for him.  Foldes obliged with some of the most difficult works of Bach, Beethoven, and Schumann.  When the young man at last finished, von Sauer walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead.  "My son," he said, "when I was your age I became a student of Franz Liszt.  He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying, 'Take good care of this kiss--it comes from Beethoven, who gave it to me after hearing me play.'  I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage [this blessing], but now I feel you deserve it."

          What this story describes is a blessing, at least one form of blessing.  The word "Blessing" comes from an old English word, "bleodsian," which means "to sprinkle with blood."  A blessing is a precious thing, not to be given lightly or without purpose.  We today do not fully understand the meaning or impact of a blessing, so we use the word in several different ways.  One meaning, for example, is that a blessing is a formal act of approval, such as, "Parents gave the young couple their blessing."  This kind of blessing is intentional.  You take time to tell your son or daughter getting married that you do approve, and that you pray God's hand on their life and relationship.

          Another kind of blessing is a desirable state of being, as in "blessings of peace or prosperity."  "We are really blessed," we say, meaning good things have come our way.  This kind of blessing can stretch beyond this world to include the "blessings of faith in Christ," which is eternal life.  A blessing can also be a short prayer of thanks or divine protection.  We call our prayer before meals, "asking the blessing."  In the Old Testament, a blessing was a deliberate gift from one person to another for God's protection and care.

          In Genesis 27 we read about old Isaac, the promised son of Abraham, who wanted to give his spoken blessing to Esau, his firstborn, the outdoorsman he loved more than his other twin son, Jacob.  For reasons only a mother could know, his wife Rebekah tricked Isaac into giving his blessing to his younger son.  These are Jacob's words:  "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness-- an abundance of grain and new wine.  May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you.  Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.  May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed."  After Isaac discovered he had been tricked, there was no taking back the blessing.  Once given, the Old Testament blessing was impossible to retrieve.  Hence, Isaac's later blessing to Esau was far different:  "Your dwelling will be away from the earth's richness, away from the dew of heaven above.  You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother.  But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck."  Today we see that both of these blessings come true in history.

          A blessing, then, can be one of three things:  1) The Giving of Approval - God blesses us with His love, or, 2) The Giving of a Gift - God's rich blessings given us in life, or, 3) The Giving of Thanks.  In our worship liturgy we sometimes hear, "Let us bless the Lord!"  And our response is, "Thanks be to God!"

          In each case a blessing is given and received.  Like I said to you last week, such a gift is twice blessed -- it is a blessing for the one who receives it, and also for the one who gives it.

          In today's Bible text, Paul is reminding the people of Antioch of their Jewish history.  He reminds them of the blessings God has given them in the promise of the Messiah to King David.  Paul says, "The fact that God raised Jesus from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:  'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.'"  This tells us that even a promise can be a blessing, for it gives people hope.  The promise of a better life, the promise of good wishes from someone dear to us, or the promise of prosperity and better times -- all these blessings give people hope, and hope can be a powerful and desired blessing.

          About twenty years ago, Eugene Lang, a very wealthy man, changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem, New York.  Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders.  What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school?  He wondered how he could get these predominantly black and Puerto Rican children to pay attention, even to look at him.  Laying aside his notes, he decided to speak to them from his heart.  His message was simply this:  "Stay in school and I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you."  He made good on that promise and at that moment changed the lives of nearly every one of those students.  For the first time they had hope.  Said one student later, "I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me.  It was a golden feeling."  And with this promise, nearly 90% of that class went on to graduate from high school, and he paid for the further education of all who entered college.  The blessing of hope -- who can calculate its effect on our lives?

          Some blessings require a response from us.  In today's Old Testament reading King David is reminding the people how God has prospered them, by giving them a new land to live in and its many resources and riches at their disposal.  They who once had nothing, now had so much -- freedom, a land of their own, homes, livestock, the respect of other nations.  Best of all, he reminded them they had a mighty God who cared for them, who wanted to be their Father.  Because of this, David reminded them to remain faithful, and not to forget where their blessings came from, lest by being unfaithful God would take it all back.

          Our human nature plays tricks on us.  At the precise time we realize all that God has given us, we begin to forget Him.  The very time receivers acknowledge the gift, they begin to forget the giver.  That's the nature of sin in our lives.  Satan doesn't want us grateful.  He wants us selfish.  The enemy of God doesn't want us trusting anyone but ourselves.  It all started in the Garden of Eden when Satan lied to Adam and Eve, and people ever since have been believing the lie.  "God's not important - you are!  Forget God - He's just a spoilsport, always making demands.  Live life your way!  If it's to be, it's up to me.'"

          Dear friends, don't listen to that voice.  Satan is a liar and the father of lies.  He doesn't want our good life, but our death.  Christ wants us to live forever, and He has given His life that it might happen.  Jesus is God's Son, and Jesus loves us.

          King David also charges Solomon his son to stay faithful to God.  Power is a heady thing.  Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  A powerful ruler who acknowledges God and honors Him will bring blessings upon His people.  But a ruler who is self-centered or who worships at the altars of other gods will lose blessings for His people.  Sadly, that very thing happened in Solomon's later life.  God granted him power, riches and even pleasure beyond his wildest dreams.  And it took Solomon down.  At the end of his life, the Bible says he followed the gods of his heathen wives and forsook the Lord.  We're not even sure Solomon received eternal life.

          The "ABCs of Giving" include our blessings to God and God's blessings to us.  Because of God's love for us in Jesus, you and I are truly blessed.  F. E. Marsh once listed ten blessings we have from God:

(1)  An acceptance that can never be questioned.  (Ephesians 1:6)
(2)  An inheritance that can never be lost.  (1 Peter 1:3-5)
(3)  A deliverance that can never be excelled.  (2 Corinthians 1:10)
(4)  A grace that can never be limited.  (2 Corinthians 12:9)
(5)  A hope that can never be disappointed.  (Hebrews 6:18,19)
(6)  A bounty that can never be withdrawn.  (1 Colossians 3:21-23)
(7)  A joy that need never be diminished.  (John 15:11)
(8)  A nearness to God that can never be reversed.  (Ephesians 2:13)
(9)  A righteousness that can never be tarnished.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)
(10)  A salvation that can never be canceled.  (Hebrews 5:9)

          The ABCs of Giving begin with Attitude, and continue with Blessings, God's blessings to us and our blessings to Him.  May we ever give praise to God for His mercies new to us each morning of our lives.  And may such appropriate blessings be returned from us to Him in fair measure, and in all we do and say, amen

Copyright © 2006 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.