Gifts

Some people excel at gift-giving; they seem to have a knack for choosing just the right thing. Some cultures encourage generous giving to the point of self-denial. If you express admiration for someone’s tie or scarf, they immediately take it off and insist on giving it to you.

It can be challenging to know how to respond. Indebted? Embarrassed? Most gift-givers, though, are content to see the joy the gift brings the recipient. More blessed to give than to receive, Jesus said.

God is just such a gift-giver. He excels at tailoring the gift to the recipient. 

It can be challenging to know how to respond. We can feel inadequate. We can sense that the gift comes with responsibilities we can’t or don’t want to shoulder. We can feel we don’t deserve it.

But I think that God gives gifts like he gives his love – unconditionally. He enjoys watching our delight and joy as we receive from him.

God’s gifts are perfect. They inspire gratitude and joy. These are four of the best gifts I have ever been given. God excelled himself when he entrusted these four into our care.

They all inspire gratitude and joy, not just in us, but in others, too. God is so good.