When the Praises Go Up, the Blessings do not Necessarily Come Down

Question from a Site Viewer
I have heard many times and even in songs that when the praises go up the blessings come down. It sounds good, but where is the scripture reference or is it inferred through scripture? I would really like to know. Do we really receive blessings because we praise God?

Tim’s Answer
God desires our praises and both encourages and commands us to praise Him. The word “hallelujah” is a command meaning “praise the LORD.” Further, God delights to bless His people but sometimes withholds His blessing because we are not serving Him properly. The Old Testament is full of illustrations of God’s desire to bless being frustrated by the waywardness and sin of His people.

Nevertheless, I would never want to imply that if we praise God, we will receive material or physical blessings. While it is true that if we do not praise God, we are likely to feel His chastisement (those who do not praise Him cannot, by definition, be walking in His will). Yet, it cannot be proven from Scripture that if we praise Him, He will bless us materially or physically. We are and have received all spiritual blessings when we have received Christ (Ephesians 1:3). These are ours. As Paul says in Romans 14:17, the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. These are the things we are pursuing.

However, too many times, when I have heard people saying things similar to what you have heard, I find that people are thinking about physical blessings. It is the physical blessings that Jesus wants us to turn our focus from. He wants us to focus on Him (Hebrews 13:1-3), and on the things of heaven (Matthew 6:33). To be members of the heavenly kingdom (Phillipians 3:20) means that we do not use God to obtain what we want on this earth, but we serve God to obtain what He wants in heaven. The Lord’s prayer still reads “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” not “my will be done on earth.” We are His servants and what a tremendous privilege that is. Paul states that the sufferings of this life (and those who live godly lives will suffer [2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:1]) are nothing compared to the glory we shall receive one day in heaven (Romans 8:18). This is why Jesus taught us to lay up treasures in heaven, because where we place our treasure is where our heart will be. It is good to be poor in this world but rich in faith toward God (James 2:5). It is hard to be rich in this world and still be rich in faith towards God (Mark 10:23). Godliness with contentment is a wonderful thing.

Having said the above, it is not wrong to ask God for material blessings. He wants us to ask Him, to talk to Him about everything. But we should never use God as our magic genie, to get what we want. Rather, we want to develop a personal relationship with the greatest person in all of the world, with a God who is so awesome that the heavens will flee from His presence, and so desiring of a relationship with us that He gave up His life for us. It is a relationship that money could never buy, a relationship more precious than can ever be described. We are wise to cultivate that relationship through service to Him with our praises (Hebrews 13:15), with doing good for others as He has called us to do (Ephesians 2:10), through abstaining from immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3); through working diligently (Colossians 3:23-24), through reading His word (1 Peter 2:2), and through fellowship with Him in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). If we do these things, we will be blessed with the most incredible relationship with the most incredible God imaginable. But do not be disappointed if such relationship does not translate into physical blessings. Some of God’s best people have not fared so well in this life (See Hebrews 11:35-40). But they have a great reward (Matthew 5:11-12).

May the Lord Jesus bless you and lead you to Himself.

tim

15 thoughts on “When the Praises Go Up, the Blessings do not Necessarily Come Down”

  1. Isaiah 1: 19 if you consent and obey you will eat the best of the land.
    God loves us and wants us to enjoy all his blessings. If praise is given to God only to receive physical blessing, there’s a heart issue. God said what so ever a man sow that he shall reap. Ultimately as Christians we are to focus on the eternal. This life is like a vapor, never the less we have physical need. God will provide. I was traveling an met a man that was hungry, spiritualy and physical ly. God provided!!! I believe in the whole bible all scripture is inspired. If we focus on the doing Gods will we will be blessed. I pray that these word are a blessing to you. The word of God can’t be locked down an it will not return to him void.
    Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure– pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 6:38

  2. Even though there is no literal verse in the Bible, the teaching is there. We need to stop looking for the exact words and study the Word to know its teachings.

  3. Lamon Finneyel – Although you are not entirely incorrect, but it depends on how one perceived blessing. Blessing in not just material things. God blesses come down on the just and the unjust. But the praises of a saint God will always honor. Not just with material things but blessing of peace, a kind word, maybe he will allow a blessing of praise from our boss. So again, you are not completely incorrect, but it is how one perceives blessing. God is faithful and will never disappoint his children, if when we don’t get what we want, why, because he know what is best for us and always looking out for our interest.

    1. We still have it all wrong. The Blessed Hope has already come down and is with us. Our obedience Manifest itself in our lives. When Jesus said it is FINISHED, he as done all he’s going to do. He has already come and sent us a helper to show us the way. “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” ◄ Ephesians 3:20 ►

  4. What you have all shared is so fruitful. Psalm 67 seems to be the best scriptural reference to that particular quotation/saying. However, let’s not forget that we (mankind) were created to praise & worship Him, and Psalm does tell us that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts; that is, provided our desires are in line with God’s word. We know that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 john 5:14).

  5. This article is great. God’s purpose for man is that he lives soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Praise is man appreciating God for sending His only begotten Son that we might be reconciled unto Him by His blood. Neither Jesus nor His disciples ever taught that praise would necessarily cause God to shower blessings upon us, and if it did, the blessings would be the type that pleased Him and not us. Luke 12:32 reads “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” But the verse immediately preceding it reads “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Be careful where you set your affections and the reason you praise the…

  6. When you praise God in Thanksgiving the resultant relationship or bonding that follows opens the door to undeterminable kinds of blessing. When u make a king happy in our human sphere he blesses people. Psalm76 just gives the secret of making God happy. You don’t need to weigh what your neighbor has with yours before u know he has blessed you.

  7. God speaks to different people in different ways yet same God. The same way He tells Lot to run away from the fire and allows Mishack, sha…,to be thrown in fire because he knew he would protect them. Jesus used parables so that we get variety of teachings with one story. He is our God who loves us and would provide more we desire spiritually and physically… That’s why David said allow me to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living… How do I preach the goodness of God ….

  8. The spirit behind the question is, does one get something “because” one praises. And the answer is no. That would turn
    God into a vending machine; just insert your praise, and you’ll receive a blessing. God is Sovereign. He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants. More often than not, blessings are more closely related to the heart of the recipient, and the grace of God.

Leave a Reply (1,000 characters MAXIMUM)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Characters: 0/1000