Wow. There's so much I want to say. So much rumbling and ruminating and marinating and rambling in my head right now...

GIFTS

Travel with me and let's look at how the Bible talks about people giving gifts to each other:

"The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth." Revelation 11:10

There are 2 mentions of birthday parties (no gifts mentioned). Pharaoh's party included the hanging of his baker, and Herod's party included the beheading of John the Baptist. The gift-giving occasion in Revelation is in celebration of God's prophets being killed by the beast. I don't think we want to celebrate like that!

"Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor." Esther 9:20-22

"Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." Nehemiah 8:10-12

Gift-giving instituted by God-fearing men was about a time of celebrating God's goodness with special food, and sharing with those who didn't have enough.

"Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts. A poor man is shunned by all his relatives—how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found." Proverbs 19:6-7

Gifts can sway allegiance - we tend to favor those who give us material goods over those who have no materials goods to give. Is this why we tend to shy away from the poor?

"Shortly after this, Merodach-Baladan, the son of Baladan king of Babylon, having heard that the king was sick, sent a get-well card and a gift to Hezekiah. Hezekiah was pleased and showed the messengers around the place—silver, gold, spices, aromatic oils, his stockpile of weapons—a guided tour of all his prized possessions. There wasn't a thing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah didn't show them.And then Isaiah the prophet showed up: "And just what were these men doing here? Where did they come from and why?" Hezekiah said, "They came from far away—from Babylon." "And what did they see in your palace?" "Everything," said Hezekiah. "There isn't anything I didn't show them—I gave them the grand tour." Then Isaiah spoke to Hezekiah, "Listen to what God has to say about this: The day is coming when everything you own and everything your ancestors have passed down to you, right down to the last cup and saucer, will be cleaned out of here—plundered and packed off to Babylon."

Gifts can sometimes puff up our egos and make us act foolishly.

"Jehoram's brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah—the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. Their father had lavished them with gifts—silver, gold, and other valuables, plus the fortress cities in Judah. But Jehoram was his firstborn son and he gave him the kingdom of Judah. But when Jehoram had taken over his father's kingdom and had secured his position, he killed all his brothers along with some of the government officials.Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. He imitated Israel's kings and married into the Ahab dynasty. God considered him an evil man. But despite that, because of his covenant with David, God was not yet ready to destroy the descendants of David; he had, after all, promised to keep a light burning for David and his sons." 2 Chronicles 21:2-7

This king spoiled his kids with gifts. Not a good result. He was also probably a horrible parent. Probably not a wise move to give spoiled kids more stuff?

"He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty." Proverbs 22:16

Who among our friends and family are not the richest people who ever lived on this planet? If we give gifts to our rich friends and family, will we come to poverty? If we're financially frugal, maybe not necessarily the absence of wealth, but spiritual poverty?

"Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom." Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means." Daniel 5:16-17

Daniel was brave enough to refuse reward and gifts from the King as payment for his service. He also resisted "rich foods", choosing instead to eat lean and honor God. Even though we are not paying each other for services, is God calling us to choose to live lean and honor God by rejecting STUFF that can make us unhealthy and distracted from our mission?

"So he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new.He then went back to the Holy Man, he and his entourage, stood before him, and said, "I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no God anywhere on earth other than the God of Israel. In gratitude let me give you a gift." "As God lives," Elisha replied, "the God whom I serve, I'll take nothing from you." Naaman tried his best to get him to take something, but he wouldn't do it."

This could be the equivalent of someone in our congregation being anointed at prayer time and being healed, then wanting to gift the pastor/elder out of gratitude. It seems to me that Elisha did the right thing by not accepting a gift of gratitude that belonged to GOD. When we give and receive gifts of gratitude to each other, are we giving to others what is rightly God's?

"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get." Matthew 7:7-12

What do we want others to give us? Do we want them to give us what is beneficial to OUR mind, spirit, body, and soul? Then we need to be cautious and give only what is beneficial to THEIR mind, spirit, body, and soul. We are weighed down by our stuff. Do we want to accept more weights and add more weights to others?

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"

This father gave his son gifts of honor - robe, ring, sandals. At first glance, this seems to show that we should lavish our kids with gifts and celebration. But a second look shows that the parable here represents the God as the Father, and us as the Prodigal Son. God is saying that when we decide to accept His mercy and live with him as our Father, he bestows on us all that belongs to Him! We are heirs, adopted into His royal family and he replaces shame and guilt with gifts of spiritual beauty and gladness!

"By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David's number-one advocate and friend. Saul received David into his own household that day, no more to return to the home of his father. Jonathan, out of his deep love for David, made a covenant with him. He formalized it with solemn gifts: his own royal robe and weapons—armor, sword, bow, and belt." 1 Samuel 18:1-4

This gift was a covenant-gift as a way of vowing loyalty and deep friendship. Which of us has given that kind of gift?!? Maybe we should if a friend like David comes along! But going deeper, do these gifts remind you of anything? The Father of the Prodigal Son gave those same gifts! And the weapons remind me of the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). Could this scripture read: "Jesus became totally committed to you (insert your name here). From that point on he would be your number-one advocate and friend. God received you into his own household that day, no more to return to your former allegiance. Jesus, out of his deep love for you, made a covenant with you. He formalized it with solemn gifts: the privilege of royalty and spiritual protection."?

"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. ...Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all... While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." Acts 10:1-5,30-36,44

God notices our giving to the poor! His response to humble generosity was to generously give the Holy Spirit!

"Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things—you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us—now, do your best in this, too. I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you. You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, "Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least."" 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

The Corinthian believers gave sacrificially as they learned of the great needs of other believers! Paul saw that the heart of giving was there, but he encouraged them to follow-up the heart with action. As believers sacrifice to supply each other's needs, the Body reaches equality in their standard of living. How does the American believer's standard of living compare to the rest of the world's believers? Is it God's desire that we hoard the wealth or spread it to those who REALLY need it, and reach for equality in the Body?

"Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:14-19

As we give goods and our faith to those who REALLY need it, God will supply us with overflowing SPIRITUAL riches in Christ! Our missionaries need our support so that they can continue to spread the Gospel to the lost and hurting world!

"Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me.Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign LORD. Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast. The fat of my festival offerings must not be kept until morning. Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God." Exodus 23:14-19

In contrast to our American gift-giving parties, the Jews were commanded to have parties with the only gifts (mentioned) given to God (see also Lev 23) - the BEST of what they had, celebrating His provision for them. Lord, I want EVERY party I have be in celebration of Your goodness, mercy, and love!

"But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself]." James 1:14-18

Are we satisfied giving "nice" gifts to others, or do we want to be the vessels God uses to give "good and perfect" gifts? What kinds of gifts are good and perfect? What kind of gift is God calling you to give?

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13

So I see gifts to God and "Holy Men", gifts to Kings, gifts as bribes to seek favor, gifts to brag, gifts to the poor, gifts to missionaries, and gifts of food and other necessities to our children and each other. The examples of gifts that seemed righteous were either FROM GOD, to God, to specific people God wanted to bless, to the men God called to work (church workers and missionaries), or to the poor. I see several examples where gifts were not appropriate. America's people seem to invent new ways of spending money on each other! I don't see Jesus giving gifts to his friends and family... That is - any gift besides his every breath, his every word, his every action, and his very life. Lord, teach me what it means to lay my life down for my friends!

"But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. But now that you know the real God—or rather since God knows you—how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers? For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years."

For those of us who feel enslaved to observing traditions and special days, or who feel convicted that our celebrations and gift-giving are not honoring to God, let us free ourselves from those paper tigers and allow God to teach us how to celebrate and give gifts HIS way! For those of us who feel that God is already honored in our celebrations and gift-giving, enjoy your freedom to keep at it! For all of us - let us praise God for our freedom and stay unified in love and grace for each other!

"In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing." 2 Timothy 2:20-21

God has lavished us with good and perfect gifts (a body, our skills and abilities, resources, etc), not "stuff". Stuff is what we have spent those blessings on. EVERYTHING belongs to Him, but many THINGS will pass away at the destruction of earth. We want to become the same kind of parent and friend as God, so we need to learn what God does with what He has. And the example He set was to give up everything to become nothing on earth so that he might make us rich - not in material wealth on earth, but in the inheritance of the kingdom of our Daddy the King! When we become His sons and daughters, we live within the kingdom on earth and can enjoy MANY blessings. But the Lord teaches us how to become "poor" and "nothing" while we're here so that we can use our every resource to bring others to the kingdom and shower them with spiritual riches. Are we spending our spiritual and material wealth in God's kingdom on ourselves, or are we actively making ourselves poor so that we can share the REAL, lasting blessings with others? We need to be consecrated (cleansed to be used for God's work) so that we can become the kind of giving servant Jesus was. He will show us how if we are willing! I hope each of us is willing!