Sermon 28

Beware Of Your Blessings!

Romans 9:4-5

Many years ago, someone asked me what it meant to say that Jews were God's chosen people. The answer to that question is really found in Romans 9:4-5, our text for today's message.

Romans 9:4-5 lists some of the special blessings from God bestowed upon the nation of Israel. It is part of a large section (3 chapters - 9-11) in Romans about Israel. In general, Paul is explaining that God's chosen people, the Jews, are in unbelief. The first three verses of chapter 9 express Paul's anguish and passion for the salvation of his people, the nation of Israel.

Paul cites a most remarkable list of privileges. First, they are Israelites - they are the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose name was changed to Israel. "Throughout history, Israelites (or Jews, as they came to be called after the Exile in Babylon) have distinguished themselves in virtually every field of endeavor - in science, the arts, music, business, education, political leadership, and countless other areas. They have always been a noble people and have produced a disproportionate share of the world's geniuses."

Second, Paul points out that Israel was adopted by God. Exodus 4:22 - Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son ... Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Third, Paul points out that God gave to Israel His "glory" in the tabernacle and the temple. Exodus 40:34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. I Kings 8:11b - the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

Next, Paul says that God gave to Israel "the covenants" (plural - there were several of them). It included that covenant that God made with Abraham (a son, a nation, a homeland) and that He renewed with Isaac and Jacob. There was also a covenant with Moses - that obedience would bring blessing and one with David - a promise of an eternal kingdom. And we cannot forget the New Covenant of redemption through His God's Son. These covenants made Israel the unique recipients of revelation from God.

Then Paul says that God's blessing upon Israel including "the giving of the law." "The greatest legislative code ever written and the basis of all true legal codes ever since" - John Phillips. The law was intended by God to bring blessing to those who obey, to bring prosperity to the nation and morality that honors the Lord and other principles and standards for life that brought justice and fairness, governing the political, social and religious life of the nation.

Next, Paul lists the "service of God" which refers to the ministry of the tabernacle and the temple. God gave to His chosen nation a way to worship and a way to experience cleansing and forgiveness.

We cannot overlook the "promises" which Paul mentions in verse 4. The Old Testament is loaded with promises from God to Israel. Promises about their homeland, their future, their Savior.

Verse 5 adds to the list the "fathers" referring to the Patriarch - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. It was through those men that the foundations of all the blessings were laid. It was through their lives that so many wonderful spiritual lessons were illustrated.

Great as all these privileges were, there was one that eclipsed them all. Verse 5 - and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. What more could be said than that? God's gracious dealings with Israel were crowned with the highest and noblest honor which could conceivably be bestowed upon any people. To them the Messiah, the Christ came. He was born of a Jewish mother and reared in a Hebrew home. He attended a Jewish synagogue. He lived and labored in the promised land, ministering to the "house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). "He came unto his own" John 1:11 says.

All of these blessings were given freely to Israel and to no other nation. And yet, in spite of all that, Israel rejected Christ. "He came unto his own and his own received him not." (Read Isaiah 5:1-4).

Blessings may not produce eternal benefits. In fact, your blessings may be your ultimate downfall. God blesses and graces your life in some special and unique way. He does that because He loves you and wants your love and your gratitude. But if you take your eyes off the source of the blessing, off the supplier of the blessing and fix your gaze on the blessing itself - well, the blessing may become to you a curse, your uplift may be your downfall, your apparent strengths may be your eventual weaknesses.

The problem is not the blessing. The problem is not with God. The problem is with us. What given with the intention of bringing us joy, that which was an expression of God's love, so often leads us to look away from God, or maybe, we just take the blessing for granted and if we are not careful, we actually begin taking credit for something which God gave us. "Look what I have done. Look what I have accomplished. Look at what I have" - these prideful attitudes that can ruin us. "Look at God" is what we are suppose to be saying.

Think about the Biblical record of men and women whose lives were eventually destroyed by their strengths.

Think of Lot. The Bible says that he had flocks and herds and that his substance was great. But his prosperity caused him to make choices that left God out of the picture. He chose to live a place where the land was fertile and well-watered even though it caused him to locate closer to a place of sin and temptation. Before we know it, Lot is living in Sodom, the most wicked city imaginable. Before we know it, he is drunk and incestuous. His material prosperity led to his spiritual bankruptcy. Is it a blessing from God to be prosperous? Absolutely! But can that blessing become a curse? Yes, it can!

Being better off, may not mean that you are better! * A 10-year study of patients who were hospitalized due to suicidal tendencies conducted by Dr. Aaron Beck (American Journal of Psychology) concluded that "the risk of suicide increases with resources." The more stuff you have, the more likely you are to commit suicide. Poor people rarely do. * Another medical study concluded "subtract two years from you life if your annual family income is over $40,000." * Still another study said that "among both men and women, the incidence of marital infidelity rises in connection with income." For example, the percentage of an extra marital affair among married men was 31% of those who made under $20,000 and 70% of those who made over $60,000. Think about how prosperous America is. Has that blessing made us more committed to Christ? Think about how prosperous you are. So how are you doing spiritually? How is your commitment to Christ these days? In many cases, as our income goes up, our involvement in and our commitment to the work of the Lord goes down. Beware of your blessings.

Think about Jacob. You know, the Bible doesn't identify a lot of people as being intelligent. In fact, intelligent is not a Bible word and neither is smart. But I get the distinct impression that Jacob was a very bright guy. He was clever and quick minded. He was one of those guys who could always figure out a way to manipulate any situation or circumstance to his own personal advantage. He, no doubt, had a superior intelligence. He figured a way to beat his brother out of the blessing and the birthright. He figured a way to bred his flocks so that he outdid his father-in-law in the growth of his fortune. Jacob was a very intelligent and successful man. He didn't amount to anything for God until he came to a point in his life where no amount of scheming and dreaming were going to save him. It wasn't until he was left weak and limping that he was a prince with God. Is a brilliant mind a blessing from God? Absolutely! But can mental capacities lead to spiritual failure? It happens all the time. In fact, I've been around long enough to see kids grow up with so much going for them, so much potential, so smart. But often their own intelligence is the very thing that causes them to turn away from God, to get them out of church and away from service. No wonder the Bible says "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called..." (I Corinthians 1:26). Beware of your blessings.

Think about Absolam. II Samuel 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. Physical characteristics make a person attractive to other people. Beautify people seem to just naturally attract a following. Beauty seems to be accompanied by confidence and charm. So it was with Absalom. And the Bible says that he "stole the hearts of the men of Israel." But ultimately, Absalom was a great tragic figure. He died the death of a hunted rebel. Is beauty a blessing? For sure. But can physical beauty bring spiritual ruin? Yes, indeed. Beware of your blessings.

Consider Samson. His strength was indeed a blessing from God and used at times for the glory of God. Samson was one of those super-talented types that seemed to have everything going for him. But in the end all his strength, all his personal talent led to his downfall. He was blinded and enslaved and mocked and came to the point where the only way that he could bring glory to God was by dying. Is natural talent in what ever field (athletics or music) a gift from God? For sure! But can it be one's eventual spiritual downfall? For sure! No doubt, many of those secular music artists sang first at church and about God but now in bars and evil-filled concert halls about sin. Beware of your blessings!

Your strengths can destroy you perhaps more than your weaknesses. Your advantages can become your disadvantages. Whatever they are - prosperity or intelligence or beauty or talent - one of the lessons that the nation of Israel teaches us is that blessings from God are no guarantee of ultimate spiritual success.

No wonder that Paul said, "When I am weak, then am I strong." Ultimately, our strengths are our weaknesses and our weaknesses are our strengths. Our weaknesses cause us to depend on the Lord, to keep our eyes on Him and not on ourselves.