God the Giver

God is a better giver than we are receivers.  We can be notoriously difficult when it comes to receiving gifts.  And when we receive a gift we can appreciate the gift more than the giver!  An important part of gift-giving these days is keeping a receipt so gifts can be returned or exchanged.  Imagine that we would not appreciate, wish to exchange or refuse a gift God offers us!

One example from the Bible of someone not appreciating a gift is when king Solomon gave Hiram king of Tyre 20 cities from the land of Galilee.  One would think property on the largest body of fresh water in Israel would be pleasing, but this was not the case.  1 Kings 9:12-13 says, "Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. ¹³ So he said, "What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?" And he called them the land of Cabul, as they are to this day."  Cabul means "worthless" thus this was a very negative, critical assessment. 

Surely we would never be guilty of seeing a gift from God as worthless, right?  It happens more than you would think.  Because God loved the world He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to all, and not everyone to whom the gift of salvation has been offered has humbled themselves to receive Him.  Jesus Christ is the source of Living Water the Holy Spirit which springs up in those who believe unto eternal life, but not all have received Him.  No one will be delivered from eternity in hell or find entrance into heaven because they were a respected person or responsible citizen:  only faith in Jesus Christ enables us to receive forgiveness and God's gift of salvation.

Let us not think this refusal of God's gifts is limited to unbelievers, for the New Testament speaks of many gifts given by the Holy Spirit in addition to salvation some have written off as irrelevant, unnecessary and even unwanted.  It may be God has given a particular spiritual gift one is not pleased to receive or use because they had their eyes an another gift, even as Sam in the Lord of the Rings had covetous eyes on shiny daggers Galadriel gave to Merry and Pippin rather than gratefully receiving the coil of Elvish rope given to him.  It turned out the rope was more practical and useful to him and Frodo in the end, and it is even more true concerning gifts God gives to His children--be it spiritual gifts, practical wisdom, guidance and correction, singleness, having a spouse, children, opportunities to serve and minister.  God gives knowing the place He has prepared for us in His kingdom.

Paul wrote to self-righteous believers in 1 Corinthians 4:7, "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?"  Know that all we possess:  all our gifts, righteous standing before God, our talents and fruitfulness are gifts from God we do not deserve.  The corollaries are therefore we ought to be grateful to God for all He has given, humbled to receive such grace from Him and be content with such things as we have because we trust Him.  It is by His grace we live, can know God and receive good things from His hand.  God is the greatest giver, and may we glory in Him rather than His gifts.