A BOX OF USELESS GIFT!

Proverbs 18:16 AMPC

A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

 

Have you ever been given a gift that left you feeling deflated? Either because the gift doesn’t match the occasion, age appropriate, too cheap, or too expensive or for whatever reason, regardless, that gift would be useless to you. A gift is supposed to be a blessing and bring pleasure to the recipient. But not always. Gift giving means offering something to someone without expecting anything in return. It’s a way to show love, kindness, appreciation, or celebration. In the Bible, gift giving is often connected to generosity, worship, and caring for others. Gift-giving secures opportunities and access to great men. Generosity is scripture mandated.

Giving should come from the heart—not because we’re forced, but because we want to bless others as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” “it’s the thoughts that count” right! Not always.

Worthless gifts are those that are meaningless to the receiver. Sometimes people give gifts out of duty, pride, or to impress others—but not out of love. In that case, the gift may look nice, but it’s empty in meaning.

At a point in life, because of the job I did, I received all kinds of gifts from clients and their families. I got a box for these gifts for safe keeping and to avoid clutter. I came to quickly realise as I was sorting out the box one day, that most of the gift in there were useless to me but was in most cases valuable to the giver.

Useless doesn’t necessarily mean worthless!

Upon inspection, I realise that some of these people have given me gifts that meant something to them but not to me. An example was an ornate cigarette lighter! Why? I don’t know why that person gave it to me, because I don’t smoke-thereby making that gift both useless and worthless to me.

Gifts should be gratefully received when they are widely used. Gifts can build relationships and open doors. They show kindness and love.

Jesus encouraged giving in Luke 6:38 saying: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Giving leads to blessing—not just receiving gifts, but receiving joy, peace, and favour.

Gifts are symbols of our love, commitment, and care for others. When we find the perfect gift for a friend or loved one, we receive great joy to see the receiver use and delight in it. Similarly, God handpicks special gifts for each person through 1 Corinthians 12-15, and He takes great delight when we use those gifts responsibly and for his glory. Some of His gifts to us are “spiritual gifts,” unique abilities for each believer for building up the Church wisely.

All of God’s gifts are useful and valuable-as James 1:17 states- “good and perfect” gifts.

God started out by first giving us His son- God loved the world He made so much and not wanting the world to perish, gifted the world His son because of that love according to John 3:16. Because of this love, we receive all kinds of gifts from the Father-spiritual, physical, financial and material as stated in Psalm 84:11.

Have you received or given gifts that are useless?

I threw away some of those useless gift-they weren’t good to anyone I know but I found a good home for what was useful to those I gave it to.

Something that was useless to me was useful to someone else. Never undermine and underestimate your spiritual gifts in any setting.

God gave us the greatest gift! God is the ultimate giver. He gave us Jesus, showing us how powerful and loving giving can be.

2 Corinthians 8:12-14 should be our rule to giving! Give according to what you have and can afford!

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

-        Why do you give gifts—just to impress others or to show love?

-        Have you ever given something without really meaning it? How did that feel?

-        What makes a gift valuable in God’s, yours, and the recipient’s eyes?

-        If God opened your “gift box,” would He find useful gifts like love, kindness, and obedience—or just empty things?

PRAYER: Father, help me to generously learn to give good, useful, and valuable gift to glorify you and to bless the receiver in Jesus’ name, amen.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/65uQvBO0YRDehzaL2rtity?si=uqa9SBhGTt66TIO9lB-N7w

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