Exchanging Gifts with God
(2 Corinthians 9:15, Romans 12:1-2)
1. A little five year old girl took a sheet of brown construction paper and cut out the letter “E” with her safety scissors. She wrapped it and gave it to her dad for Christmas.
When dad opened the present, he looked at it with a smile and asked, “what is this?”
His daughter replied, “What you said you like for Christmas. A brown ‘e.’”
2. The truth is that probably all of us over 20 have received Christmas gifts we would have rather not received. A boy received a turtleneck sweater from his grandmother that was two sizes too small, but his mom made him write a thank you note. He wrote, “Thanks, Grama, for the turtleneck sweater. I am all choked up.”
3.Sometimes we re-gift them. Other times, to the mission in the summer.
4. In many instances, we exchange gifts; we try to give equivalent gifts, esp. to fellow adults.
7. But the exception is children; we do not expect gifts in return, or, when they are older, equivalent gifts.
8. When it comes to exchanging gifts with God, He is our Father and we are His children. We cannot match His gifts; all our gifts to Him do is show our love for Him.
7. In a sense, we cannot give God gifts.
Message: We can never pay God back for the gift of His Son, but we can gift ourselves to Him out of love and appreciation.
I. God’s Gifts to Us Are BUNDLED Together (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Some gifts are targeted just for certain people. When Marylu and I were first married, we went to celebrate Christmas Eve at her aunt and uncle’s house. While we were eating, her cousin’s five year old son snuck into the living room and opened all the gifts. His name was Adam, so we should probably call this the sin of Adam.
The gift God offers, however, is offered to everyone. Whoever will may come.
A. This extensive gift is beyond FULL description, but we can describe some aspects (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
“indescribable in a good sense” (Arndt and Gingrich)
Not talking about the financial gift the Corinthians were gathering, which is describable…
B. A wage is what we earn; in contrast, a gift is FREELY given.
Romans 4:4-5, “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…”
C. This gift is an unspeakable BUNDLE, but we can speak about some of its particulars.
1. A SAVIOR, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11)
2. The gift of a LAMB (John 1:29)
• The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
3. A RANSOM (Matthew 20:28)
• even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
4. The gift of ETERNAL LIFE in heaven (Romans 6:23)
• For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. The gift of the HOLY SPIRIT as a down-payment/pledge (Ephesians 1:13-14)
• In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
C. Like all gifts, this gift must be RECEIVED.
1. We must want this gift, and the obligations this gift carries.
• When I get gifts I do not want, I give them whether quickly or slowly.
• Just like some people will not accept a gift because of pride, so many reject God’s gift because of pride.
• People generally do not want gifts they will not use. Like the bald man who was given an expensive comb, “I’ll never part with it.”
• People do not want gifts that will alter their lifestyles, unless they truly want to change it. For example, an expensive instrument demands lessons and practice.
2. We receive this gift by a repentant faith.
Application: That first Christmas was the initiation of God’s gift. Jesus wasn’t decked in red and green ribbons with a purple robe, but He was the first and greatest Christmas gift.
II. Our Gift to God is Not REPAYMENT, but a Response to God’s MERCY (Romans 12:1-2).
Sometimes people say, “when I signed up for this phone plan, they gave me a free phone.” No they didn’t; you are paying for it in your monthly fee. It wasn’t really free, it was included. There is a difference. You paid for it. Not so with salvation Somebody else paid.
Some gifts are more tokens. For example, a Thank You card is a token gift.
When a child takes toilet paper rolls and makes an ornament for his parents, the gift exchange is not equal, but the gift is precious because it communicates love.
Our obedience to the Lord is not a repayment, but the continuation of a relationship.
A. When we properly value God’s mercy, we are ready to PRESENT ourselves to God.
1. A person bringing a sacrifice to the Temple would present it at the gate.
2. To be an animal that was sacrificed was a short ordeal; to be a living sacrifice is a life-long commitment. It involves surrendering our rights to the Lord; it means saying “I am not entitled.” It means allowing His will to override your own.
B. Although a specific command, it does not limit itself to a one-time EVENT.
1. Marylu says, “Please take out the trash.” (garbage, rubbish), this command can be repeated. We might even agree to duties (I take out the trash); but I might forget that commitment or get out of the habit.
2. We tend to crawl off the altar.
3. What keeps us on the altar is the renewing of our minds.
4. Some cell phones hold their charge a long time; some, less than a day.
5. We, too, need to recharge the spiritual batteries regularly.
C. Like God’s gift to us, this gift should be a gift that keeps on GIVING.
D. The Scriptures use a variety of IMAGES for this same concept.
I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
2 Timothy 2:15a, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed…”
2 Timothy 2:22 offers some particulars as to what Romans 12:1-2 means, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
E. Our gift to God is ourselves, BODY, HEART, SOUL, and MIND.
