Have You Been Blessed Like Bartimaeus?

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required…Luke 12:48

While reading the story of Blind Bartimaeus Mark 10:46-52 to my children last night, I realized something new.

(Don’t you love that God can show us new things every time we read the scripture?)

Bartimaeus was blind from birth.

All of his life he had longed to be whole – to see! And, all his life, he had been cared for by others.

As an adult, he had relied on begging for his livelihood.

Begging requires nothing more than sitting on the ground with your hand out. He wasn’t used to work of any kind. This is not to say that he was unwilling to work! But it had never been required of him.

Jesus took notice of him there by the side of the road, begging for coins. He heard his heart as he cried “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Jesus saw his faith and restored his sight. Bartimaeus rejoiced with the blessing he had received!

I stopped reading the story and wondered what happened next.

He could see. He had no reason to beg any longer. Indeed, no one would hand him a dime. He was perfectly healthy and able to work. You can see what I’m saying here.

The blessing of sight required him to get up and work.

God blesses us with what we have always wanted – and then tells us to get up and use it!

If you are blessed with health? Get up and help others.
If you have been healed? Get up and care for your body properly – then help others.
If you have been blessed with wealth? Get up and use it for God’s purposes – as He specifies.
If you have been blessed with things? Get up and share them with others.
If you are blessed with talents? Get up and use them – don’t let them sit and fade away.
If you are blessed with business sense? Get up and use it for the glory of God.
If you are blessed with education? Get up and use what you know or teach others.
If you have been blessed with a position of authority? Get up and lead others in His Name.

If you are blessed, get up! Work hard with what you have been given. Amen?

Perhaps you have been given that blessing for such a time as this. Esther 4:14 Get Up!