In discussion group after worship yesterday (Sunday, November 3), we got onto the tangent of discussing blessings. I posited the idea that the opposite of a blessing is jealousy or envy. I know the phrase is typically "blessings and curses," and while I'm not arguing that those are either end of a spectrum, I'm not sure they're opposites.
Say more:
Blessings and curses are certainly often treated as opposites, but they carry different layers of meaning when we dig into them. A curse is something imposed externally—a direct harm, a restriction, or a consequence that feels in opposition to well-being. In scripture, curses and blessings are both portrayed as originating from external sources, be it God, another person, or circumstances beyond our control. A blessing, conversely, often evokes a sense of protection, favor, or divine goodwill that enriches our lives.
However, when we consider blessings in the context of our internal lives—what blessings evoke within us—the conversation changes. When we feel blessed, we often experience joy, gratitude, peace, and even contentment. We become acutely aware of what we have and feel the richness in it. It’s a moment of fullness, a recognition of something good that’s been bestowed upon us, whether tangible or intangible.
But when that feeling of blessing is absent, what takes its place? Envy or jealousy can arise when we shift our focus from the blessings in our own lives to the blessings in someone else’s. Instead of seeing our own lives as full, we start to measure ourselves against others. We may feel incomplete, less than, or deprived, turning the feeling of blessing on its head. Jealousy is, in a way, the internal absence of blessing. It’s a lack of joy for what we have, mixed with an intense longing for what we see in someone else’s life. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Comparison is the thief of joy."
This insight also pushes us to redefine blessing as something more expansive than material goods or status. Blessing could mean the strength to endure hardship, the community that surrounds us, or the grace to forgive others and ourselves. When we realize blessings aren’t simply possessions or status markers, it becomes easier to release envy and truly appreciate our own lives.
By appreciating blessings as anything that enriches our spirit, our perspective on life shifts. Blessing becomes not just something we receive, but a posture we adopt—a way of perceiving the world and ourselves. That shift is powerful because it transforms envy into something constructive. Instead of wanting what others have, we start looking at how we can cultivate a spirit of blessing within our own lives and for others. This approach not only expands our capacity to appreciate life as it is but also challenges us to offer blessings back to the world around us. As Psalm 23 reminds us, "My cup runneth over." I've also heard this described as drinking from the saucer—meaning the cup has overflowed, and we even have extra.
What would it look like to focus on blessing as an active choice? Not just to count blessings passively, but to become a source of blessing for others—helping to bring about more goodness, peace, and joy in their lives. If we see ourselves as stewards of blessing, the drive for comparison fades. Instead, we’re motivated by how we can share, uplift, and encourage one another in tangible and spiritual ways. This, perhaps, is a profound calling for all of us.
