James 1:16-18
Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever gone to a garage sale and discovered an item on the table that you gave a friend or family member, you know the sinking feeling that comes with this discovery – especially if the item has clearly never been used. Did the recipient not like your gift? Did you insult him/her? Was there something wrong with it? Worse yet… have you ever been holding your own sale and someone arrived who had given YOU a gift… and now that item was clearly in sight on the table and available for purchase? Even if the gift was something you could not use, didn’t like, or simply didn’t work for you in some manner, the feeling of embarrassment can weigh heavily.
I try to give “good gifts”…to select items that I believe the recipient will enjoy or really wants or needs. But I also have tried to develop a spirit of giving that goes like this… once I present another person with a gift, it is theirs to do with as they please. They can use it, love it, wear it, sell it, give it away… or throw it in the trash if they want. Once a gift leaves my hands, I no longer control it. The recipient is free to use the item as he/she pleases.
I will be the first to admit, if I give someone a gift and they tear it up or discard it right away, I’m a little disappointed. I am quite delighted when I give a friend or family member something and then see it proudly displayed, worn or utilized. I want to offer others gifts that will please them or enhance their life in some way. But I must be prepared to let go of these bequests and trust the receiver’s use of them.
God is such a wonderful giver. He picks out the very best gifts for each of us. Out of His incredible wisdom and care for us, He grants unsurpassed blessings upon our lives… He selects perfectly and bestows generously. He also gives unconditionally. Certainly, God is disappointed when we do not appreciate the things He gives us. I imagine He is heartbroken when we don’t even bother to take them out of the box, so to speak – as in talents and abilities we never cultivate. But He blesses us anyhow and gives us the freedom to do as we please with His endowments.
When God comes to the “garage sale” that is your life, do you really want Him to see the gifts He has given you on the table, discounted deeply, and perhaps “new in the box”? Do you want God to find His offerings discarded in the trash can? We’re not talking a trinket you were given just because someone felt obligated to offer you something. We’re talking hand-selected presents from GOD! Remember, God doesn’t make junk… and He doesn’t give it to His children, either!
How are you treating God’s gifts today? Are you recognizing that what He gives you is perfect and uniquely designed just for YOU? Are you showing respect for His ultimate gift - His only Son, Jesus Christ - and the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood on the cross for your sins? When was the last time you thanked God…REALLY thanked Him… for being such a generous, loving Father? Isn’t this the perfect time to do exactly that?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label good gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good gifts. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 15, 2011
Proverbs 21:2-3
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts. Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than an offering.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am continually in awe of how God uses His word to feed us – to give us exactly what we need when we need it. And I really needed this scripture passage now. At a recent funeral, the pastor shared a memory of “offerings and collections” that occurred when we were children. He talked about this lovingly… and about the genuine servitude of those who collected and gave. But for me, this memory spurred something far less heartwarming.
My parents worked hard when I was a child… both often holding down more than one job at a time. While my sister, brother and I had all of our basic needs met plus a few extras, there wasn’t a lot of spare change. So when the March of Dimes volunteer handed out the cards for us to fill with our dimes, we didn’t have very much to contribute. When our church had an annual “Lottie Moon” Mission drive, we put our change in little boxes to turn in on the designated day. But some church members gave large amounts of money and got to light up a bulb on a giant map that hung in our church sanctuary. I know it sounds silly, but when I was a kid, I so wanted to be able to light up one of those bulbs… to be one of those people who could afford to give that much money to missions.
So recollections of giving to missions and fundraisers are not happy ones for me, because I never felt my “gift” was enough. Now I know differently. Now I get that God was more interested in my heart than my handout. He was more concerned that I do the right thing… more concerned that I love Him and serve Him to the best of my ability than He was that I fill a card with dimes or light up a bulb on a silly map.
I know that those who were in charge of the drives had no intention of making anyone feel badly… especially a little kid. I know that there are those who can readily afford to give a lot of money to missions and other projects that serve the LORD… and we should all give to the best of our ability. But tossing money at God without the right heart and attitude does not please Him nearly as much as those who have little to give, but serve with a loving, willing heart in whatever manner they can.
We should get two things from this passage today… 1) we must never pressure others to give a certain amount – or to serve God in a particular way, and 2) God doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have… time, service or money. He only asks that we serve Him with a loving, willing heart – to the best of our ability. If we do the right thing and keep our motives pure, God will honor and bless whatever we are able to do in His name. I know He has done this for me over and again. And now I know for certain that serving in whatever way I can from a sincere, humble heart is the best, most pleasing offering He could ever desire.
What is in your heart? Are you doing the right thing and pleasing God with your offerings? How are you serving Him today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts. Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than an offering.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am continually in awe of how God uses His word to feed us – to give us exactly what we need when we need it. And I really needed this scripture passage now. At a recent funeral, the pastor shared a memory of “offerings and collections” that occurred when we were children. He talked about this lovingly… and about the genuine servitude of those who collected and gave. But for me, this memory spurred something far less heartwarming.
My parents worked hard when I was a child… both often holding down more than one job at a time. While my sister, brother and I had all of our basic needs met plus a few extras, there wasn’t a lot of spare change. So when the March of Dimes volunteer handed out the cards for us to fill with our dimes, we didn’t have very much to contribute. When our church had an annual “Lottie Moon” Mission drive, we put our change in little boxes to turn in on the designated day. But some church members gave large amounts of money and got to light up a bulb on a giant map that hung in our church sanctuary. I know it sounds silly, but when I was a kid, I so wanted to be able to light up one of those bulbs… to be one of those people who could afford to give that much money to missions.
So recollections of giving to missions and fundraisers are not happy ones for me, because I never felt my “gift” was enough. Now I know differently. Now I get that God was more interested in my heart than my handout. He was more concerned that I do the right thing… more concerned that I love Him and serve Him to the best of my ability than He was that I fill a card with dimes or light up a bulb on a silly map.
I know that those who were in charge of the drives had no intention of making anyone feel badly… especially a little kid. I know that there are those who can readily afford to give a lot of money to missions and other projects that serve the LORD… and we should all give to the best of our ability. But tossing money at God without the right heart and attitude does not please Him nearly as much as those who have little to give, but serve with a loving, willing heart in whatever manner they can.
We should get two things from this passage today… 1) we must never pressure others to give a certain amount – or to serve God in a particular way, and 2) God doesn’t expect us to give what we don’t have… time, service or money. He only asks that we serve Him with a loving, willing heart – to the best of our ability. If we do the right thing and keep our motives pure, God will honor and bless whatever we are able to do in His name. I know He has done this for me over and again. And now I know for certain that serving in whatever way I can from a sincere, humble heart is the best, most pleasing offering He could ever desire.
What is in your heart? Are you doing the right thing and pleasing God with your offerings? How are you serving Him today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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