Give
him a generous farewell gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your
winepress. Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you.
--
Deuteronomy 15:14
Christmas
is just around the corner, but we shouldn't despair if we're still looking for
that perfect gift for that someone special. After all, there are plenty of
options, and a quick trip to Amazon.com will confirm it. But with money
particularly tight these days for so many people, every purchase has to count.
We need gifts that will make an impression. We need value. It comes down to
getting bang-for-the-buck.
There's
nothing wrong with trying to stretch a dollar. But maybe a gift's real
That's
certainly the case if we're to believe the Bible. So what does it say about the
characteristics of a good gift? And more to the point, what does Scripture tell
us about being a good gift-giver? We can find the answers through its vivid
portrayals of Jesus related to the issues of living, relationships and love.
It's
from Christ's example that we learn to give with an attitude of
generosity: one that exceeds what we expect to receive. Our gifts
should also affirm the value of the recipient. But most
importantly, our gifts -- whatever they may be -- should be given
out of love.
The
Bible doesn't say that an Apple iPhone is a better gift than a bicycle or a
sweater. But the same principles apply. And what we also learn is that when it
comes to gift-giving, it really IS the thought that counts. (Your
grandmother was right!)
Christmas
is straight ahead ... and time is running out. But before we head to the mall,
log onto Amazon.com or tune into the Home Shopping Network, let's follow the
examples of Jesus, who was and is the ultimate gift-giver. His greatest present
was the salvation he bought for us through his death on the cross. It was an
incredibly valuable gift that we can never repay. It was also given out of
love. And it's free and available to anyone who's willing to open the
package.
No comments:
Post a Comment