What's the real gift?

One year, I didn't get anything for Christmas.

We had just moved to Houston the evening before and were lucky enough to find a water glass in the bottom of a moving box.

And you know what?

It was one of the best Christmases I've ever had.

This memory popped up when I was thinking about the concept of "blessing."

In a world that seemingly bends towards the toxic gospels of prosperity and positivity, one might falsely believe that blessing is intertwined with the results of living "rightly."

But according to Scripture, blessing is far different (especially considering the Pharisees lived "rightly" and were far from blessed).

Biblically speaking, blessing is a spiritual state that brings us closer to God.

The end goal, therefore, isn't the stuff we amass, the safety we're given, or the happiness we feel.

The end goal is the beautiful relationship we get to have with Jesus.

And sometimes, this relationship is cultivated better through suffering in this fallen world than it is when things go well.

Just take a look at the Beatitudes.

God redeems the brokenhearted, and it's usually the brokenhearted who can relate to God's own broken heart in relation to His wayward children more than those who are forever living it up and unaware of the cost of suffering.

So, what's the real gift? The stuff? Or knowing the heart of God?

Maybe then, we should live more like this verse of "Nothing Else" by Cody Carnes:

"I'm not here for blessings.

Jesus, you don't owe me anything."