The main thrust of my thoughts today concern our
attitude of giving and not the gift itself. And as we discuss
gift-giving, let’s keep in mind the definition of “gift.” Simply said, a
“gift” is something voluntarily given. It’s not a reward nor is it
something earned.
As I alluded to earlier, when we’re talking about this season of
gift-giving, it’s the attitude that’s important and not the gift itself.
And, when you really think about it, this attitude shouldn’t be relegated to
just a few days of the year, but should be seen in us all the time - year
‘round.
Well, what should our attitude be towards giving? The
apostle Paul tells us that our “giving”
should be done “cheerfully”
and not “grudgingly.”
(2Cor. 9:7) If that’s the attitude we’re supposed to have
when “giving” to
Him, why should it be any different in our “giving”
towards others? In the 4th chapter of 1 John we’re told that we should
have the same attitude towards others as we have towards Him. And
vice-versa.
In other words, we “give”
from the “heart”
because we want to and not because we expect something in return. That
would be violating the definition of a “gift.” Let me relate a true story
to you that I feel illustrates the proper attitude of giving to others without
considering a recompense for having done so. Perhaps this little story
also is applicable to this “season” we’re currently observing.
Many years ago, in the late 1800's to be exact, an 18 year old boy
was attending Stanford University and was struggling with the college
fees. Being an orphan, he had no where to turn for a source of
money. He and a friend had the idea that they would host a musical
concert on campus and thereby raise the funds needed.
They sent a letter to the great pianist Jan Paderewski, at that
time touring the U.S. asking him to hold a concert at the university. His
manager demanded that they pay a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the concert to be
held. They agreed and went to work selling tickets.
Unfortunately they only collected $1600 so they went to Paderewski
and explained their situation, giving him the $1600 and a promise to pay the
$400 at the earliest they could. Paderewski returned the money to them
and asked them to simply pay his expenses and just give him whatever was left
over. The concert was held and the boys were able to complete their
college education.
Some years later, Paderewski became the Prime Minister of Poland
and was acclaimed as being a great leader. Then World War 1 came along
and Poland was being ravaged by the war and suffering greatly. More than
one and a half million people were starving in his country. Paderewski
reached out to the U.S. Food and Relief Administration for help.
The head of that organization was a man named Herbert Hoover and
he quickly approved the request and many tons of food was shipped to Poland as
rapidly as possible. Paderewski was so relieved and thankful for the gift
of this food that he came to the U.S. to personally thank Hoover.
When they met, Paderewski began thanking him for what he described
as a noble gesture when Hoover interrupted him and said, “You shouldn’t be
thanking me Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several
years ago, you helped two young students get through college. I was one
of them.”
What Paderewski had done back then was just a small act of
kindness. He just gave a gift of his time and effort, but it marked him
as a great human being. Why should he have helped two people he didn’t
even know? I think that his gift illustrates what Jesus said in Matt.
12:35. That a “good
heart” produces “good
things.”
All of us will have these situations arise at times in our
lives. And the sad thing about this is that many people have the attitude
that “If I help them what will happen to me?” But, truly great people,
the ones with the “good hearts,”
don’t think that way. Their “heart”
says, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?”
True givers from the heart don’t do it expecting something in
return. They do it because it’s the right thing to do. For more
scriptural reference that addresses our attitudes toward giving, I recommend
that you read verses 27-38 in the 6th chapter of Luke.
To close out our thoughts on the attitude of “giving” I’ll do it this
way. Our Heavenly Father is the greatest example of gift-giving that’s
available for our learning. I say this because of what James tells us in
James 1:17: that “Every good
gift and every perfect gift is from above....” Everything
this world has for man to exist has been gifted by God. So that we can “have life” and “have it more abundantly.”
(John 10:10)
But let me just remind you of three of the best gifts delivered by
the greatest of all gifts. And it must also be remembered that these
gifts were bestowed without our being worthy of receiving them (Rom. 5:8).
In Romans 5:15 we see that we’re given the gift of “grace.” Then in Rom. 5:17 we find that if
we are in the “grace of God”
we also receive the gift of “righteousness.”
The third gift is the gift of “eternal
life” (Rom. 6:23). All of these gifts come to us through the
only delivery method God authorized and used - His Son, Jesus Christ. In
John 4:10 is found a beautiful metaphoric statement by Jesus that shows us that
HE IS the “gift of God”
through which “eternal life”
is bestowed. He tells the “woman
at the well” that He is the “gift
of God” by which the “living
water” is obtained. In verse 14 we see that His “living water” is the water
of “everlasting life.”
“Thanks be to God for His
inexpressible gift.” (2 Cor. 9:15 ESV)
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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