“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”
Blessed is the man
The word “blessed” carries more than the idea happy. The idea is that a “blessed” person is a privileged recipient of God’s favor. The Christian will enjoy a certain favorable situation if he meets God’s condition for receiving that blessedness. He is a fortunate person indeed.
This word for “blessed” is the same word as in the beatitudes (Matthew 5). Blessedness is a state that outside circumstances cannot affect. It is something that we carry within. It is a quality that we receive from God and that we cannot acquire apart from Him. It is the state whereby we enjoy God.
The New Testament calls God Himself “blessed.”
“…according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:11).
“…which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Principle:
Our sense of satisfaction comes from the source of God.
Application:
We can carry blessedness within because of our association with God. Many Christians do not carry that sense of blessedness. They do not have what God has because they live apart from God.
Blessed people are those who need nothing. They are independent of the world. They don’t depend on luck or a windfall coming their way but upon divine resources within.
Thank you for you insightful comments.
I am wondering about your thoughts on the “crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Is this crown referring to eternal life? And if so this would mean eternal life is granted to those who love God (TNIV), which leads me to wonder about saving faith in Jesus Christ. I know there are many references about Jesus being the only way to the Father and that to be saved we are called to believe in the Lord Jesus.
Romans also says that, “God works for the good of those who love him.” It does not say He works for the good of Christians, or for the good of those who believe Jesus is Lord.
How does one harmonize these ideas?
-Kylagh
Kylagh, if you would have advanced to 1:12c you would see that this crown refers to reward for the believer.
“Those who love him” is a m synonym term for believers.
Grant,
Thank you. I realized this as I continued to to the next part of the verse.
Blessings.