This past Christmas I did the majority of my shopping online for the first time ever. While it was easy and convenient there is a certain level of risk. Will the packages arrive on time? Will I be satisfied with the product? When my niece’s gift arrived, to my disappointment, it was too small. At this point it was already after Christmas so I didn’t want to delay sending her gift any longer. I knew she would love the outfit but there was no sense in giving her something she couldn’t wear. I didn’t have the time or energy to go shopping so I gave her something of my own. My favorite Disney movie is Beauty and the Beast. My brother gave me the DVD/ Blu-ray combo pack for Christmas a few years ago when it was released from the Disney vault. My niece is five and has never seen Beauty and the Beast so I knew she would love it. Five year old little girls eat up that Disney princess stuff. So I sent her the Blu-ray copy and kept the DVD for myself.
It seems odd and maybe even a little stingy to give someone a “used” gift or a gift that wasn’t freshly purchased from the store. But I thought about it and it was even more of a sacrifice to give her something of my own. What if everyone gave like that? Giving gifts would be much more meaningful if you knew that the giver was giving up something of their very own. I’m not talking about used no good items that have little value. I’m talking about good quality stuff. Granted, giving my niece the movie wasn’t exactly sacrificial. I still have the DVD copy and I don’t even own a Blu-ray player. The point is that it was mine and I was willing to share it with her.
Giving of your own says, “I love you so much I’m willing to give you this…I want you to have this…I love you more than this…” That’s exactly what God did for us. He gave his only son (John 3:16). He could have created another brand new son just for us and sent him to save the world. But He didn’t. He gave us the only son He had just to show us how deep and true His love is for us. That is a picture of the true essence of giving.
I told the Lord that I want to be more of a giver in 2016. Not just giving of my money, but my time, my love, and even my possessions. I really want to embody the heart of a giver. (It’s a tall order for a short person but I’m up to the challenge…I think.) There is also a blessing in giving. True giving is from the heart. True giving is all about quality, not quantity. Like the woman who gave 2 pennies in the temple and Jesus said she gave more than anyone (Mark 12:41-44).
When you give it creates a void or a vacuum that allows blessings to be drawn to you. It’s a spiritual law so it has to work for everyone. Give from the heart and expect that void to be filled. To what measure you give it will be given back to you and then some (Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 6:9-10).
When God gave the world His son He gave the biggest gift in the universe! Keeping in line with spiritual law, He had to receive something major in return. What was it? It was us! When you receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, God gets you back. You are his reward for giving. It pleased Him to give Jesus because He knew He was going to get you in return. Let that marinate for a minute. If your mind isn’t blown its hasn’t marinated long enough.
Give freely and abundantly because while you’re busy blessing others, God is putting it on someone else’s heart to bless you.
Resigned at 29 