Christian slogans come and go. The creation of them seem to be primarily driven by the culture from which they sprang. For example the phrase "I am blessed" comes from a Western culture driven by success. But what does being blessed really mean in the context of being a Christian and being blessed? To begin, being blessed is a state of being that is derived from being in a right relationship with God. A right relationship with God can only come from being born again. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Jesus explains to a seeker, Nicodemus, that unless one is born again they can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus is bewildered by this statement and asks how that is possible, to be born a second time. Jesus tells Nicodemus this new birth happens by the Spirit and can not be something observed. Furthermore this new birth, this entrance to the possibility of "being blessed" starts with a belief in Jesus to have eternal life. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:14-16.
In Matthew 5:2-12, Jesus teaches what it means to be blessed and the teaching is not about a state of wealth, it is as follows:
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
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