What do you think about when you think about a gift? At this time of the year almost all children are thinking about gifts. The majority of parents are thinking about gifts. Everyone in retail are certainly thinking about gifts. Most of the manufacturers are thinking about gifts. And even our wonderful elected officials in Congress are thinking about gifts, at least how gifts can get them re-elected. You see gifts play a big role in every one of our lives for there is hardly a person in our culture who has not received at one time or another, a gift. But have you ever really thought about the gift?
What characterizes a true gift? Well, first it has to be voluntary or it’s not a gift at all, it just becomes a payment, something earned. Secondly it must be given without obligation. It can’t be given with the expectation of getting something in return or making the recipient feel obligated in return. And thirdly, it also has to be provided without cause, that is, without the recipient meriting it in any way. At first this might seem quite simple but in reality this will excuse most of our gift giving and receiving from the category of being a true gift.
The next step then is to provide the gift. There are three key things in providing a gift. One, a gift must be planned carefully. It would be impractical to get a man a sewing machine or a woman a socket set! The gift has to be specifically matched to the intended recipient, something that is of worth or is needed by the recipient. Two, a gift must be purchased. A price must be paid. Even a homemade gift requires a material purchase. Three, a gift must be presented. Even the greatest gift does nothing if not given to the intended recipient.
So what is the greatest gift ever given? What is “The Gift?” It’s the gift given by God! It is the gift of “Eternal Life.” Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All humans will live forever, but the question is where? It’s not, “if you will,” because you will, it’s, “where you will.” The problem is our natural path takes us into a lost eternity away from God which is our wages for our sin, “death.” A wage is something that is earned and deserved. But, God gave us “the Gift!”
God the Father knew our need, the greatest need we have, and so he planned the gift just for us. “Salvation / Eternal Life” with him in heaven, which is the greatest gift he could plan! Jesus his Son paid the price for it by being born on Christmas so he could live a sinless human life and thus give his life in ransom for ours. “For God so loved the world that he “gave” his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have “eternal life.” John 3:16. And the Holy Spirit of God presents “The Gift” to us, in fact he’s presenting it to you right now as your read this.
But a gift must be received! It can be planned, purchased, and presented, but the recipient must receive it. If the person won’t accept it then it does no good. Will you receive God’s gift of eternal life? He planned it just for you! If not, why not? – Merry Christmas!