How do you become a blessing? Is it possible to be a blessing to others? And is it what God wants of us?
If you have arrived here, it is already a good sign that you are open to God and the teachings of Christ. You have considered, maybe even decided, that you want to be a better person with more to offer each day that you spend on earth.
Of course, the phrase itself, “being a blessing”, can seem quite vague. “Blessing” alone, as a word, can have multiple meanings.
Whether you are Christian or not, we can all learn to be more of a blessing to those around us.
In this article, learn what it truly means to be a blessing to others, how to bless others in a literal sense, and what the Bible says about being a blessing.
What Is a Blessing?
A blessing, in general, can be defined as something good or beneficial that one is grateful for.
As a religious word, a blessing is God’s protection. It is also a sign (or offering) of thankfulness, compassion, and love.
To “be a blessing” to others, therefore, would be to help, serve, and protect those around us. We can do this by being kind, generous, and helpful – and not just to those we love, but strangers and even those we are not particularly fond of.
Being a blessing can be compared to living how Jesus did, acting as someone’s “guardian angel”, or simply being the Good Samaritan wherever we can.
What Does Bless Mean?
To bless someone or something can also have multiple meanings. It can be a sign of protection or gratitude.
When we bless our food before eating, it is to show thankfulness, both for the food and the company that we are with – just as Jesus did at The Last Supper.
We might bless our house or car, especially when we have newly come into possession of it. In this case, it would be to request God’s protection over it.
We can also receive blessings, or be blessed. This might be from a priest, or even as an answered prayer from God.
How to Be a Blessing to Others
To be a blessing to others is to follow in Jesus’ example: to love and care for others, help and serve others, and be an example of God’s love so that others can follow.
Just as the word blessing has multiple meanings, we can also bless, be a blessing, and give blessings to others.
Most importantly, we should be a blessing to everyone that we meet – wherever it is in our power to do so. This includes strangers and even those we might consider as enemies or those we do not like.
There are numerous ways that we can be a blessing to others in the eyes of God.
You might, however, be asking, “Why should I be a blessing? What do I get in return?”
Not only does being a blessing to others please God, but it is a rewarding way to live that brings many blessings in return. By blessing others with our kindness, help, and love, God in turn will provide us with blessings in our everyday lives – great and small.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
(Proverbs 19:17)
Spread Joy
We can be a blessing to others by simply spreading joy and love.
God wants us to build each other up, encourage one another, and share in the good news of His love and compassion. For if we have Him, for what reason should we feel discontent or discouraged?
Spreading joy can be as simple as smiling at a passing stranger, engaging in a warm conversation, or giving someone a compliment.
We do not have to do grand gestures to make others happy. In fact, anyone can leave a memorable legacy behind them as someone who was generous, helpful, and convivial.
Of course, to spread joy, we must at first feel the joy of the Lord. Through Him, we can channel His joy, letting it pass through us to others, and through them to the people they meet.
So, it is always important to remember that God has our best interests in mind; we should always be content and joyful for this very reason, as He has a special plan for each and every one of us.
Spread the Word of God
To spread the word of God is to also be a blessing to others – and to God.
The Bible is full of wisdom, comforting verses, and uplifting stories that we should be passionate about sharing. After all, if the Bible has the power to help someone who is hurting, lost, or downcast, then we should never be ashamed or embarrassed about sharing it.
The stories of the Bible each contain a message that we can apply to different situations and problems in life. The gospels themselves were written so that we may look at Jesus’ life to marvel at and be inspired by the wonderful things he did for all those he encountered.
In fact, we can spread the word of God not only by sharing the written content of the Bible, but by living it. In other words, to spread the word of God is not just to quote the Bible, but to embody and enact its message in our daily lives wherever we can.
By spreading his message, we are also pleasing Him.
Share Your Faith
Just like spreading the word of God, we can be a blessing to others by sharing in our faith.
Of course, this does not mean forcing our faith on others, but to simply praise the Lord God openly, be his servant, and live the teachings of Christ.
We should never be embarrassed or hesitant to share our faith, or even admit it among those who are not Christians.
To share our faith is to just be open in the message we want to spread: that the Lord is good and that we should love and look after one another. As Christians, we do not have to be vocal about this, but representatives who carry out His message in everything we do.
By sharing our faith, God will also bless us – both here during our time on earth and when he welcomes us to meet Him.
Be an Example
Ultimately, to be a blessing to others is to be an example of Jesus Christ.
Being an example is to also lead by example, and therefore lead others in the way of the Lord.
Jesus spent his whole time on earth spreading the message of God: to help one another, be compassionate to one another, and to love one another – as was his last commandment.
If the Bible should teach us anything, it is that we should love and be kind to one another. This is to be a blessing to others, to bless others, as well as to receive God’s blessings and grace.
To be an example is to also inspire. As Christians, it is important that we remember to be humble and modest. We can be a blessing to others by simply treating them as Jesus would in our chosen actions, not necessarily by our words.
It is always more powerful to inspire by action, as Jesus did, not by telling others what they should do or how they should live.
Share Your Blessings
We can be a blessing to others by also sharing our blessings.
You might be asking, “What are blessings?” or “What blessings can I share?”
A blessing can be the possessions you have, as well as your God-given talent or gift. If it helps another or provides joy, it is certain to be a blessing to them, as well as a blessing in the eyes of the Lord.
Jesus taught us to be generous and kind – no matter who it is that stands before us. If we are in a position to provide food, money, shelter, warmth, help, or simply our kindness, we will please God by doing so.
And if it pleases God, we should never hesitate to help!
The poor, sick, disgraced, unfriendly, wealthy, and non-believing are all worthy of our help and generosity. As the Bible tells us, to share our blessings is to also receive blessings in return.
Pray for Others
To pray for others is to also be a blessing.
God is always listening to our prayers. In fact, to pray for others, as opposed to just praying for one’s self, is a noble, virtuous act in the eyes of the Lord.
Those we love and are close to, as well as those we know or are not close to, are equally deserving of our prayers. Jesus never discriminated when he helped others, and neither should we.
We should always pray for the safety, happiness, and good fortune of others. Why? Because God wants us to look after one another. Not only that, but those who experience the love of God are more likely to go out and spread His message.
To give blessings and be a blessing as one of God’s prayer warriors, we must also fully believe in the power of prayer.
What Does the Bible Say About Being a Blessing to Others?
What does the Bible say about being a blessing to others?
Throughout the Bible, even in the Old Testament, God tells us to look after one another and live lives of kindness and compassion.
By leading lives of love and being of service to others wherever we can, we are a blessing to others as well as in the eyes of God.
What’s more, being a blessing to others is to also receive blessings in equal measure. We can live blessed lives by simply being a blessing.
For some inspiration and encouragement, here are some quotes from the Bible about being a blessing to others.
1) 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
2) Proverbs 11:25
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
3) Matthew 10:8
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
4) Philippians 2:3-4
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”
5) Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
6) Proverbs 3:27
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
7) Hebrews 13:16
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
8) Romans 12:13
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
9) Matthew 25:35
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invite me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
10) 1 John 3:17
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
11) Luke 12:33
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
12) 1 Peter 4:10
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
13) Proverbs 19:17
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
14) Luke 6:27-28
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
15) John 15:12
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
How to Bless Others
As well as being a blessing to others, we should learn what it means to bless others – in the same way that God blesses us and His priests bless us at the end of mass.
To bless others is to grant them God’s protection, as well as his love and grace.
This is the meaning and the power behind the saying, “God bless you.”
As Christians, we should offer God’s blessing to others whenever we can. There is no “correct” way for us to do this, as it can be said out loud, expressed in prayer, or by performing the sign of the cross on another person, or through the application of holy water.
We should also never deny others the blessing of God, no matter whether they are poor, wealthy, non-religious, or people we might consider enemies or unfavorable.
Similarly, we can also bless others by letting them hear the word of God, or by simply being an example of Jesus in how we treat them.
To be a blessing to others is to be blessed by God, and to be blessed is to receive God’s blessing.
Conclusion
We can be a constant blessing to those around us by being of service of to others, helping others through generosity, and being compassionate to others. As Jesus did, we should aim to help all those we encounter in life without discrimination or hesitation.
The Bible teaches us to be a blessing to others, as through this we can then receive God’s grace and other blessings. By being a blessing, we are also blessed and rewarded by God. This does not just count here on earth, but when also when He welcomes us to meet him.
Ultimately, to be a blessing to others, we should live our lives spreading joy, spreading the word of God, sharing and rejoicing in faith, leading by example (as Jesus did), praying for others, and sharing in our own blessings – whether they are material or not.
