Gifts

Gifts

What do you think of when I mention the word "gifts?" Usually, when Christians think of "gifts," we think of giving a small portion of money to the Church. Are you kidding me? Since everything is God's to begin with, how backward is that? Oh, how the sin of pride lures us to believe we are being so good, so giving, yet often so prideful. How wrong that thinking can be, for if all things come from God, then we are just returning a fraction of what He has given us?

Psalm 116:12 asks a wonderful question. What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?

1 Corinthians 12:1-3 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however, you were led. Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

We have nothing we can offer him, except what he has already given us. First, God has given us the gift of life itself, and yes, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! These two gifts are the most precious of all. Life and a path to Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to have faith in Jesus the Christ. Even the desire to love and worship God comes from Him in the first instance. This is why David prayed to God to prepare his people’s hearts. Upon receiving the gift of faith, which we cannot expect, we can then ask God for more faith, greater talents, or even more blessings. But we cannot do anything without his giving us his "all" first.

1 Chronicle 29:12-15 All things come from God. “Now, therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.

This, a song of praise, reminded them that, as their Creator, all things belong to God, which includes us. Anything we possess is on loan to us and we are duty-bound to make use of God’s gifts, not only in such a way as to glorify God but also in ways that conform with his will.

However, we have more to give than money or things we own. Any ideas floating around as to what that might infer? We can give to the Lord, “What we can do!” We can give our time and talents, not just monetary offerings.

The gifts many people of the Old Testament gave were not only money, but, oh, so much more. Exodus, chapter 25:1-8, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart, you shall take My offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod* and in the breastplate. And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.

*An “ephod” was usually made of woven linen worn in battles over a breastplate. It had more of a religious connotation as opposed to being protective.

Often they purchased expensive offerings or gave laboriously handmade offerings. As you read further in Exodus, you will realize their gifts were forged in wood and exotic materials. The Tabernacle was built to certain, detailed specifications that required sawing, hammering, elaborate tooling, weaving, looping, hanging, constructing, and so much more. They made garments, curtains, breastplates, while some cut row upon row of precious stones of Jasper, Sardinia, topaz, chalcedony, emeralds, turquoise, sapphires, diamond, jacinth, (an agate), amethyst, beryl, and onyx. And, as if that wasn’t sufficient, these precious stones were mounted in gold settings. Jasper and the Sardinia stones are the first and last of these twelve stones, representing the tribes of Israel. The jasper represented Reuben, the first of the tribes, since Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob. The sardine stone represented Benjamin, the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob.

Time and talents, craftsmanship, and artistry of the highest degree. These folks knew how to give, and give willingly. Exodus 35, verses 5 tells us, ‘Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord.’