Whenever relatives and friends visit one another during Chinese New Year, they exchange words of blessing. This year is the Year of the Horse, so many greetings would include the word “horse,” such as “spirited as a dragon and horse 龙马精神,” “success upon arrival of the horse 马到功成,” “taking the lead as the first horse 一马当先,” and more modern phrases like “begin the year with full horsepower 马力全开” or “may wealth come immediately 马上有钱.” All these blessings reflect people’s hopes for a better life — that in the new year their careers, health, wealth, and relationships will all flourish and go smoothly. But what truly counts as a blessed or happy life? In traditional Chinese culture, there is a saying, “May the Five Blessings Arrive at Your Door.” These five blessings refer to longevity, wealth and honorable status, health and peace of body and mind, virtuous character, and a good ending to one’s life. Among them, the fourth blessing — virtuous character — is considered the foundation of the other blessings, while the remaining four are seen as the results of cultivating virtue. Behind this lies the deeply rooted belief in doing good and accumulating merit. The “Fivefold Blessings” have indeed been a pursuit in Chinese culture throughout history. Compared with modern society’s emphasis on material enjoyment alone, this pursuit carries greater depth. Yet realistically speaking, how many people truly experience such a complete and perfect life? Although the ancient concept of the “Fivefold Blessings” is admirable, it remains somewhat unattainable. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, could be considered one of the few who almost fully enjoyed what might be called the “Fivefold Blessings.” Yet when he summarised life’s pursuit, he did not mention these blessings. Instead, he emphasized: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).
The Bible teaches that all blessings come from God. Moreover, what He grants is not only blessings in this life, but also the blessing of eternal life. If God so wills, He can certainly grant us the “Fivefold Blessings” mentioned earlier, just as He granted them to King Solomon. Yet these are only a small part of His abundant grace. In the whole universe, what blessing could be greater than God Himself and His kingdom? Rejoice, for God is more than willing to share Himself and His kingdom with those who trust in Him! The Lord Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:3–10:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Here we see eight kinds of people, each with a corresponding and specific blessing. The first are the poor in spirit — those who are willing to acknowledge their sinfulness. They recognize their own uncleanness and tremble at God’s judgment against sin. Confessing ourselves as sinners before God is truly the beginning of blessing. It allows us to begin enjoying the blessings of the kingdom of heaven — God’s salvation. What we must deal with is the pride of self-righteousness. A person who acknowledges his sin does not merely admit his weakness intellectually. When he realises how fallen he truly is, he grieves in his heart. This is the second kind of person — those who mourn. How can mourning over sin be a blessing? It is precisely when we grieve over our sins and over the world’s offense against God that His love and forgiveness bring us the deepest comfort. Only then can we truly appreciate the preciousness of a second chance and experience God’s wholehearted acceptance. From the third to the seventh categories, these people reflect the character of the Lord Jesus. The meek are self-denying and humble, not striving for personal advantage. Though they do not fight for their own interests, God grants them the earth as their inheritance, reserving great rewards for them. In contrast, those who live only for themselves often end up empty-handed. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness long to live rightly and justly; God will satisfy them fully. The merciful show mercy because they have first experienced God’s mercy. Realising that they have received compassion despite being undeserving, they are empowered to show mercy to others — and in doing so, they experience even more of God’s mercy. The pure in heart harbour no deceit or evil. God allows them to see Him and to draw near to the King of the universe. The peacemakers live out the very mission of the Lord Jesus, bringing true peace between God and humanity, and among people themselves. God calls them His children — what an immense blessing! Finally, the eighth kind are those who are willing to suffer loss for God’s sake. They will surely receive the reward of the kingdom of heaven. May we grow in these eight qualities — and then truly, may the Eightfold Blessings come knocking our door!