The Gift That Never Stops Giving
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 (NKJV)
During the Christmas season most of us give a great deal of thought to the gifts we will give our loved ones. We strive to select something that will have not only genuine usefulness but of a quality that will have durability. Our efforts often come short of our objective regardless of the time, effort and money we invest in the process.
Using one internet search engine, I found that there were over 200,000 items that included the phrase: “the gift that never stops giving”! Try as we may, no material or earthly gift that we give our loved ones will last forever.
Many of the gifts that God gives will last for a relatively short period of time; others will last for our lifetime; whereas others will last for eternity. Be reminded that every gift from God will last for as long as it is needed. Those that last for a short period are only needed for that time. Those that last for a lifetime will not be needed beyond that. Then there are the gifts which will last for eternity.
After we consider the temporality of man’s gifts, let us look at the three categories of God’s gifts to His children which never stop giving.
MATERIAL GIFTS THAT MEN GIVE WILL STOP GIVING AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
The advertisement may read: “Diamonds are forever!” but that is simply not true. The Scripture says: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)
GOD’S SHORT-TERM GIFTS THAT NEVER STOP GIVING UNTIL THAT PARTICULAR NEED HAS BEEN MET:
Jeremiah writes: "And I said, "My strength and my hope Have perished from the LORD. ’Remember my affliction and roaming, The wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ’The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ’Therefore I hope in Him!" Lamentations 3:18-24 (NKJV)
Countless have been the times when our Lord has given us that special gift when we so badly needed it.
Perhaps it was renewed strength for the task He had given us as in Isaiah 40:41: "But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."
On another occasion it may have been the gift of discernment for some special situation; the gift of patience in some trial we were experiencing; the gift of light when the path we had taken seemed dark as was true with David: "For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness."
2 Samuel 22:29 (NKJV)
And how many times has God given the gift of a friend when we so badly needed a friend? Such was the case with David. We read: "So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God." 1 Samuel 23:15-16 (NKJV)
And we could go on and on recalling God’s special gifts to us for some pressing need in our life. We can all give personal testimony to that truth. We praise Him that these "short-term gifts" that never stop giving until that particular need had been met. Oh! what a great and wonderful God we serve!
GOD’S GIFTS THAT NEVER STOP GIVING THROUGHOUT OUR LIFETIME:
1. Physical Life and the Blessings Associated Therewith.
Life, itself, is a gift from God:
“For in Him we live and move and have our being…” Acts 17:28.
Also, “Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalms 100:3 (NKJV)
2. Material Blessings are Good Gifts from God:
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
Let us give heed to the words of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount:
"Therefore do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV)
3. Spiritual blessings that we enjoy in this earthly life.
One such blessing is the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all areas of our life.
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13 (NKJV)
The witness of the Spirit in our lives is another wonderful blessing:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:14-16. (NKJV)
Another blessing is the forgiveness of sin as we comply with the Scriptural instruction.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
Although there are many other blessings we experience in this life, we dare not fail to include the blessing of His constant companionship. Consider:
“…for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) and…
“…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20 (NKJV)
GOD’S GIFTS WHICH NEVER STOP GIVING THROUGHOUT ETERNITY:
The gifts that God gives that last for our lifetime are wonderful...and we praise Him for every one of them, but the gifts He gives that will continue throughout eternity are yet greater. Consider these:
1. The Gift of Eternal Life:
“… the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 6:23)is cause for rejoicing.
Let us also rejoice at the word of our Savior:
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NKJV)
2. The Gift of an Eternal Inheritance:
“...and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:17 (NKJV)
Consider also: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV).
And we must include: “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV)
Praise and thanksgiving be to the Lord our God for all His countless gifts and blessings. Amen.
