Let’s consider this scenario (as bowered from C.S. Lewis):
A 6-year-old boy approached his dad and says, “Daddy, can I have $20 to buy you a birthday present?”
The father smiles as he gives the $20 to his son.
Two days later as the family celebrates his birthday the little boy excitedly holds out the present to his dad.
What do you think dad’s reaction would be?
1. He thinks, “big deal, the kid just bought this present with my money.”
2. He thinks, “it’s about time the kid gives back to me after everything I have done for him.”
3. He hugs his son, thanks him for the gift, and thinks of how proud he is that his son thought enough of him to give a gift.
Most people would agree the proper reaction would be #3; but strangely enough people have a different view of God’s gifts.
To consider this, we must first agree that all gifts come from God:
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Let’s also look at this from Matthew 7:
Matthew 7:9-11 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Jesus’ Words here make the point that our ways are not above God’s ways; in fact, it is quite the opposite, His ways are far above our ways. Therefore, if we believe this to be true, why would we ever consider that God would be less than pleased with us when we use gifts He has given us to honor His Name.
God is not thinking, “big deal that you did that, you are only using the gifts I gave you.”
God is not thinking, “it is about time you use the gifts I gave you, after all, I have been showing you grace and mercy your entire life.”
If that is NOT how we would think, why would we ever consider that God would think that way?
Why would He not instead hug us, and think, “my son loves me so much that he wants to honor Me by using the time, talent, and treasure I have given him.”
In addition, God has gifted all of us differently; therefore, we must not become prideful in the gifts we have received. Instead, we must be thankful for the gifts we have been entrusted with and use them for His Glory. We are all part of the Body of Christ, and like our own body that has parts with differing functions, the Body of Christ has parts with differing functions.
I am thankful my heart does not want to shut down because it is not a lung and feels inferior. I want my heart to think, “yes, I am a heart and my function in the body is important and I must do what I was designed to do.”
Romans 12:3-8 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Great post!