Blessed to be a blessing

Today Jeff Atherstone preached at church. Jeff is the president of Gaba Bible Institute in Uganda as a missionary, training up future pastors and missionaries to advance the Gospel in the continent of Africa. Hearing him talk today really opened my eyes to a big problem in the church. He shared about how in much of Africa, there are many people sharing the so called "health, wealth and prosperity gospel" which is leading many astray and giving a false hope in a god that is not the God of the Bible but rather a god of lustful desire. In sharing, he mentioned that people are always seeking to be blessed in Uganda. They'll come up to him and ask him "Pastor Jeff, will you please bless me?" He often replies, "you are already blessed."
As he shared this, it made me realize that this thinking has permeated many Christians and not just the ones that are subject this "prosperity gospel." Many people believe that God just blesses us simply because He is just head over heels for us and He cannot restrain Himself. Scripture clearly states that God blesses us for a reason. He saved us for a reason. He died on the cross for us for a reason. The Lord's reason for this is that we (those in Christ) have been redeemed and blessed so that we can be a blessing to the nations. Often times, it goes more like, "God blessed me with $500, so now I can get a new flatscreen" or "God blessed me with $50k so now I can get a new boat." I would like to know how this is so much different than what Jeff is experiencing in Africa. These "pastors" say that God wants you to be rich. Many Christians may say that is not God's desire yet their decisions on how they spend their blessings are very consistant with the "prosperity gospel."
So I will simply appeal to you the same way Jeff did to us today. Are you being a blessing to the nations? God has blessed you. You are blessed. How are you fulfilling the purpose that God has for you in being a blessing to the nations?
I have found that much joy comes to those who are fullfilling the very purpose that they have been redeemed and blessed. I encourage you to bless because you are blessed.