The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 NIV
In this passage God tells us that if we bless His children we will be blessed. That is easy to understand, a blessing is a good thing happening to us. But He also says that if we curse His children, He will curse us. That may not mean quite what we think it means. The first time “curse” appears in this verse, the meaning of the Hebrew word used is to make light of someone or to put them down. But the second time the word “curse” is used, the Hebrew word means to destroy. This means that if we take lightly the thoughts, needs, concerns, and lives of others, God could decide to destroy us. That seems harsh and probably more punishment than we think is right, but God knows our hearts and what is behind the way we treat others, and that affects His decision.
The way we should live our lives is to bless those around us. Whatever we do, it should be something that brings a benefit, a smile, a light heart to someone. This includes other members of God’s family and people who don’t even want to hear about God. We want to be someone who reaches out to our community to show them God’s love for them and blessing them is one of the best ways to do this.
Do you remember the last time you gave another driver the right-of-way instead of rushing on? Do you remember helping someone with their packages? Think about the smile of appreciation on their faces and remember to do other things that help people in unexpected ways. In short – be a blessing!
