By Steven Norris
“Do you pray to be blessed or do you pray to be a blessing?” It seemed like a very reasonable quote to hear at Christian leadership conference. What I didn’t expect was to see retired University of Alabama football coach, Nick Saban, as the source.
I know that even mentioning that name around here could get me tarred and feathered by some of the University of Georgia faithful — especially on the cusp of another football season — but hear me out. Saban, a devout man of faith, makes a great point. What is the motivation behind our prayers?
On a simplistic and straightforward level, the question shifts the focus of our prayers from ends to means. Instead of focusing on “What’s in it for me?” it forces us to think about “What is required of me?” It moves us from being the recipient to the vehicle of God’s blessing. Instead of being a passive beneficiary, it makes us an active participant in the ongoing work of God.
I am not suggesting that it is somehow wrong to pray for God to bless us. We see such prayers throughout the scripture. Take Psalm 67, for example. It closes with “May the Lord bless us still…” The real question is what results from the blessing.
When God first established the people of Israel, God did so by calling Abram (later known as Abraham) to leave his home and his people and travel to a new land. God offered Abram three promises: a place, descendants, and blessing. The reason for that blessing was as follows: “so that all people on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).
The purpose for Abraham’s blessing was not so that he might sit and marinate in the goodness of God. The blessing was conferred so that he might use it to bless others. Most of the blessings that we see in scripture are prayed over other people — one person of faith asking for God’s blessing on another needy individual.
How do you think our prayer life might change if we shifted our focus from receiving God’s blessing to being an agent of God’s blessing? How would your life change if you started each morning with a fervent prayer that God would use you to bless someone else this day through you? Would you go about your day looking for opportunities to do good and help others? Would you pay better attention to the needs of those around you — especially those that you have the power to address?
In December, Nick Saban will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Like him or hate him, his results on the field demonstrate an incredible ability to lead a group of young men to victory. His character and service off the field also point to someone who understands that positions of leadership come with a responsibility to better those around you.
I would encourage us to take his advice and reflect on the motivation we have as we pray for God’s blessing in our own lives. May we be the conduit God uses to bless our neighbors, community, and world.