Gifts Have a Purpose
Eph. 2:1-10; I Cor. 12:4-11
I. Introduction
Well, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas yesterday. My family and I spent the day at home, later going to another family member to spend the rest of the day.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of my family and myself for your love showered on us in the form of gifts, food, cards, and the like. You have made us feel welcomed and loved, and our heartfelt appreciation goes out to you.
We are going to take another look at gift giving this morning. We will focus mainly on two things: types of gifts, and the uses of gifts.
II. Body
I think gifts can be broken down into 3 main categories:
Useless gifts such as those White Elephant gifts we discussed last week. By the way, did anybody get a white elephant gift this year?
Gifts that benefit the receiver for their personal enjoyment.
Gifts that the receiver can put to use, possibly for the benefit of others.
We will focus for a while on the last two, gifts that benefit the receiver for their enjoyment, and those the receiver can use to benefit others.
First, when I think of gifts solely for the enjoyment of the receiver, I can think of a number of things:
A new CD player and/or CDs
A new book – one of the best gifts my wife has ever gotten me was the complete illustrated Sherlock Holmes. I have read and re-read that volume of stories so many times I have lost count.
A piece of clothing that this person has wanted for a long time.
A full-size portrait of Joh Wayne – now some of you just shoved that item into the white elephant category, while others of us can think of loads of uses to have one of those around – although I must confess that none come to mind right now.
Toys
Flavored coffees and such
The point is, gifts like these are the kind you just enjoy. Sure, you can share and let others enjoy them, but the main idea is that they are to be enjoyed for the sake of enjoyment. And that’s okay!
We got my mother-in-law some Gaither videos of the Cathedrals. And my kids got me two, count ‘em, two, John Wayne movies.
Other gifts are the kind to be used in a different sense of say, that coffeemug you received with your favorite sports logo.
For instance, that new power tool is meant to be used to make things that serve some purpose, such as the cradle my dad made for my oldest daughter a number of years ago.
How about that new grill or punch bowl? It can be used to entertain in the home.
A new 4-wheeler can be used to facilitate chores around the farm.
A flashlight for the vehicle.
A microwave oven.
A computer.
You see what I mean about the difference between the two types? Sometimes they overlap, but there are basic differences between the types.
Well, I think some you of you have seen through to my real intention today – to show you that God’s gifts to us are the same way. Some are for our benefit and to be enjoyed, and some are to be used. Did you know that?
What are some of the gifts God gives us for our enjoyment, or satisfaction, if you will.
Salvation – we can tell others about our salvation, but we can’t actually SHARE it, can we?
Same with the Holy Spirit.
The peace of God.
The goodness of God – Scripture says to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Lots of serendipities of life such as family and friends who love us, the warmth and encouragement they give us; watching your kids smile when you come in the door after work.
I’m sure that all of us can think of other things that I haven’t mentioned. Gifts from God that allow us to bask in His goodness to us.
But there are other gifts He gives us that He intends for us to USE.
Before we go on, I would like to preface my remarks with this: You may have noticed that I see my time with you as a chance to encourage you and urge you to deepen your walk with God and to witness for Him. Today is no exception. And I urge you to take my messages to be those of a friend who is excited about what God can do in and through you.
Our first Scripture this morning is from Ephesians, chapter 2. Please follow as I read the first 10 verses.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were objects of wrath. (Now, pay close attention to the rest here.) But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Him in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are Christ’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The key verse here is verse 10. We are His workmanship created for WHAT? Sit around and just enjoy His benefits (although they are for our benefit)? Put them on a shelf so everyone can see how blessed you are?
No way! We are to do good works. And specifically the good works God has prepared for us to do, namely, to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and to build up the Body of Christ.
But here’s the good part – He has given us just what we need to do it! What has He given us, you may ask? Those wonderful things known as spiritual gifts!
Remember those? You know, those things we only tend to think about wither when someone is misusing one or using one exceptionally well.
On that note, have you noticed how easy it is to recognize gifts in other people, but not recognize the fact that every single one of us who has Jesus as Savior has been given one or more spiritual gifts?
I’m not going to get into trying to list all the gifts and describing them, but allow me to read from I Cor. 12, verses 4-11.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (now skip down to verse 11) All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.
Look back at verse 7. Who does the Spirit give gifts to? Everyone!! Isn’t that great? He wants to manifest His grace in us and in others as we use our gifts for Him.
Let me rephrase the question I asked a few minutes ago. Does He give us His gifts just so we can put them on a shelf like a bowling trophy? You know the answer.
They are to be USED to influence others for Christ and to build up His Body.
Have you used your gifts as well as you could this past year? I don’t know that anybody can truthfully say they have.
But let me encourage you to use whatever tools are available, and they are many, to first of all discover the gifts God has blessed you with, and secondly to ask Him how He wants you to use them for His glory.
Allow God to make this next year the most exciting and fulfilling one you’ve had to date. And expect God to do some amazing things to happen in you and those whose lives you touch.
