For a few years,
I gave my friends a birthday/Christmas gift list, so that they would know exactly
what I wanted. It was modeled after another dear friend's consistently hilarious
gift list. My list ran from the profound (world peace, cures for AIDS and
cancer) to the banal (candy) to the impossible (a tiny waistline, especially
impossible if I got the candy!) For that reason, the list didn't just reflect
what material stuff I wanted; it illustrated where my heart was, too. "For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) Interestingly,
some gifts I received were not on my list, but were delightful nonetheless.
God gives all of us some spiritual gift or gifts,
whether we'd have them on our wish list or not. In seminary, I began to suffer
mild cases of "spiritual envy" at the spiritual gifts others had that I lack.
I'd make another kind of gift list. "I wish I had the gift of prophesy (sigh.)"
As I was about to graduate, I found that some of my classmates looked at me and
said the same thing. "I wish I had that kind of strength (sigh.)" Often, we
don't even realize we have certain spiritual gifts, because they are so natural
to us. In looking at what others have, I'd temporarily forget to thank God for
the gifts I do have. I still do that sometimes, but I'm learning that I'd better
use well the gifts I have, and maybe God will bless me with more. If I don't use what I have properly, I may even lose
the gift altogether! (See the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30.) The gifts I have may not be what I'd wish for, but they are delightful gifts
from God nonetheless.
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In this time of year, gift-giving becomes a national
obsession. Parents shove other parents trying to grab a game system that their
child wants for Christmas. I know that our gift giving is modeled on the Wise
Men's giving gifts to Jesus in the gospel of Matthew (2:1-16), but we shouldn't
have to risk injury and go in deep debt trying to give our loved ones our culture's
latest version of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Is this what God had in mind?
The Wise Men were wise because they knew the greatest gift was the child himself.
Their gifts were humble tokens of gratitude and reverence. They weren't on Jesus'
gift list.
I still want a cure for AIDS and cancer.
I still want world peace.
It would be great to have them in time for Christmas, too, God.
But I know that I have the greatest gift ever,
in having Jesus Christ in my life. In loving our families and friends, our
homes, our hobbies, and such, let us never confuse the gift for the giver.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Merry Christmas and God bless you,
--Angela
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