Why Giving Good Gifts Matters
By Meg Bucher
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” – 2 Corinthians 9:15
Lately, my tween daughter has adopted a concern for the cost of the gifts we give her. “Don’t spend too much money,” she’ll say. Or, “I don’t need a new outfit for every event.”
“Don’t worry about how we intend to bless you,” is often my reply. Though my heart leaps for joy at her practical perspective of what a need is opposed to a want, I simply respond, “We do it because we love you.” My parental prayer is for the love of Christ to permeate her reality, softening her heart to reach out and bless others through the giving of her own gifts. Of course, gifts are not limited to physical things we unwrap and hold onto, but include our time, encouragement, service, and love for each other. I hope she learns to give all of these things from her generous heart.
God is the best gift giver. His love is an extravagant gift to us. Instead of the death we deserve for our sin, he promises a gift greater than we can imagine or ask for. 2 Corinthians 9:15 describes Jesus as God’s “indescribable gift.” His son is his greatest expression of love for us. That gift, along with all the other large and small ways we are blessed in this life, are meant to stir in us a reciprocal generosity!
We are commanded not to cling to the things of this world, but also to be thankful for the blessings God has bestowed upon us. If we’ve awoken to another day, with breath in our lungs, we’ve already been blessed fully. The simple things we take for granted are often the big blessings we unwrap each day. Life, freedom, good health, a warm home, food and clean water. In many parts of the world, these are extravagant gifts, blessings not fully realized.
As parents, we want to provide for and bless our children. How much more does our Father in Heaven intend to bless us, beyond the greatest Gift He has already given to us in Christ Jesus?! When we give gifts on this earth, they should never overshadow the gift of Christ.
My daughter’s instincts are correct. She doesn’t need extravagant gifts. And we shouldn’t seek to capture their hearts with the treasure of this world. Godly gift-giving is a catch and release. We are blessed by the treasures of this world, but not satisfied by them. They come and go, and though we enjoy them for a time, they do not fill us, satisfy us, or complete us. We catch his blessings, and release them as we give to others.
All we are, all we have, is a gift from God. He is our Provider, Sustainer, Creator and Good Father. Godly gift giving gives us the opportunity to point to Him, and keep the circle of generosity flowing to those He’s purposefully placed in our lives.
Who could you bless today with your time or attention, with a gift large or small? Find a way to be a gift to someone today.
