Privileged or Blessed?

It seems lately, maybe due to political unrest in so many places, that pleny of people are using the term Privileged instead of Blessed. For some reason, it has bothered me extensively and I cannot get any peace over it, so I thought what better way to get peace over this than to do some research.

Where to start? I decided to look up the words.

Let’s define the words from three resources.

First – the new, modern, Webster’s Dictionary on the internet – which often gets changed when people want it to be in their favor.

Privileged

• The definition was updated Nov 10, 2020 – I think this is interesting.
• Definition #1 “having or enjoying one or more privileges”
• Definition #2 “not subject to the usual rules or penalties because of some special circumstance”
• “First Known Use of privileged – 14th century”

Blessed

• The definition was updated Nov. 4, 2020. – coincidence?
• Definition #1 “religion: held in reverence, honored in worship”
• Definition #2 “of or enjoying happiness specifically, Christianity: enjoying the bliss of heaven”
• Definition #3 “bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune”
• “First Known Use of blessed – before the 12th century”

Second – Webster’s 1828

Privileged

• “enjoying a peculiar right or immunity”

Blessed

• Definition #1 “Made happy or prosperous; extolled; pronounced happy.”
• Definition #2 “Happy; prosperous in worldly affairs; enjoying spiritual happiness and the favor of God”

Third – Online Etymology Dictionary

Privileged

• beneficiary – 1610s (n.) “one who receives profits or advantages,” 1620s (adj.) “connected with the receipt of profits or advantages,” probably via French bénéficiaire, from Latin beneficiarius “enjoying a favor, privileged,” from beneficium “a favor, service, generosity, kindness, benefit,”

Blessed

• “late 12c., “supremely happy,” also “consecrated, holy” (c. 1200), past-participle adjective from bless (v.). Reversed or ironic sense of “cursed, damned”
• “Old English bletsian, bledsian, Northumbrian bloedsian “to consecrate by a religious rite, make holy, give thanks”
• “This word was chosen in Old English bibles to translate Latin benedicere and Greek eulogein, both of which have a ground sense of “to speak well of, to praise,” but were used in Scripture to translate Hebrew brk “to bend (the knee), worship, praise, invoke blessings.”

After reading the above, I see it this way. No matter how one looks at it – there is no doubt – the word “privileged” leaves God out of the equation and makes it seem as if the things that a person has is as a direct result of someone else other than God.

The word “blessed” has a religious connotation and puts God and religion into the equation. Therefore, I do not think Christians should not be saying they are privileged or pointing a finger at someone else and saying, “They are privileged.” Christians should be saying “they are blessed” or saying that the things others have are “blessings from God.” We want to show God in our lives – not leave him out.

Take me for example, many people know our story of moving from the states to New Zealand. For those who know it, I won’t disclose all the details; but occasionally some people have said, “You are so privileged.” My response, “No, I’m not privileged. I’m blessed.” Let me give some examples.

• God had me born into the family and country I was born in.
• God sent my husband along. Our story is truly put together by God, not a person.
• God gave me my family.
• God made everything possible for us to move to New Zealand. Yes, God used a lot of people in the process and I thank the Lord for their willingness to be used of God to help us get to NZ and stay in NZ; but God controlled it all.

The things my family and I have been able to do are a direct result of God’s blessings. Not to say we haven’t been through our share of trials and tribulations, but some have looked at us and said, “You are so privileged.” No, we are not, “We are blessed.” I do not want give some government organization, person, or nation credit for anything in my life, but I want to give God all the credit!

What all people have attained, regardless of race, color, nationality, etc are blessings from God. God does not discriminate and no one can say he does.

Acts 10:34 “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”
Matthew 5:45 “…he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Whether one wants to believe in God or not is their choice. Whether they want to believe God made the earth and everything in it (including each one of us) is their choice; but God made everything, is still making everything, and is still in control of everything.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Psalm 50:10,12 “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills…for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”
Daniel 2:21 “…he removeth kings, and setteth up kings…

 Everything each one of us has or lacks is a direct result of a blessing or lack of blessing from God. The things we have are blessings from God – not privileges from any people-created organization.

I will conclude with this question. Some may ask “Is there a way to get blessings from God?” My response, “Yes” Since God cannot lie, please read the following verses. I like to tell my Sunday School Class, “So you want to prosper and achieve great things? Put God to the test and follow Psalm 1:1-3 in your life.”

I like to title this passage “The Recipe for Blessings and Prosperity”

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Note – When we have blessings, it doesn’t mean we will not have trials and tribulations, but that is another story for another time.

God bless.