How God Gives

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Have you ever received an absolutely perfect gift? You know – the type of gift that was exactly what you wanted but in a way or form that you would have never expected?

We often call that kind of experience “the perfect gift” because it reveals something about the giver. The person giving such a gift is able to use the information or experiences that he or she has about the recipient, and choose a gift for that person that fits him or her exactly – often without knowing specifically what that person wanted in that moment of time.

In many places in scripture, we find that God is both a perfect and omniscient Giver. Not bound by the constraints of human knowledge, He is able to see within us and know exactly what we need or desire at any point in our lives. Here are several aspects we can discover about how God gives.

1. God gives for our good

Whether they are spiritual gifts or physical gifts or both, we can be assured that the gifts God gives are always for our betterment and to help us to grow and prosper. Matthew 7:9-11 says,

What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Similarly, James 1:17 says,

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…

Because God is all-knowing, He is able to see to the very core of the situations of our lives – and because His heart is one that seeks our good, He uses that information to give us exactly what we need, even before we may realize what our needs are.

2. He gives more than we can imagine

God is the most generous Giver in the universe! Not only does God have infinite resources, but He also uses those resources freely to bless His children. Romans 8:32 says it this way: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

As human beings, we are limited in our perceptions of the things around us. Even our imaginations fall short when it comes to grasping all the good things that God has in store. But that limitation can result in healthy dependence upon God and true relationship with Him if we will embrace it and believe in His goodness.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “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. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” In this truth is the incredible invitation into a deeper relationship with this massive God of the universe, who has made His infinite goodness accessible to us in ways we can understand personally.

3. His gifts do not expire

There are some gifts that are beautiful, but perishable: a new dessert to try, a trip to a special event or vacation spot, or even clothing that eventually wears out.

But the gifts that God gives are forever. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” They are never taken back, they don’t tarnish with age, and they don’t wear out with use. It is a great comfort to remember that when everything passes away in this world, what God has given will remain with us beyond this temporary earthly experience.

4. He gives from love

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” Notice that this verse doesn’t say that God felt bad for the fallen world and so He begrudgingly let them off the hook for what they had done wrong. No, it says He loved the world.

From that heart of love, the blessings of salvation, provision, healing, and so much more come to us as a powerful expression of who God is as a Giver. If we think about someone that we love and the way we feel towards that person in our best moments, we can begin to get just a small glimpse of the enormity of God’s unconditional love towards us – which will never change.

5. His gifts must be received

Finally, God doesn’t force His gifts on the people He has created; the gifts He has provided must be willingly received. He is seeking those who desire both Him and His gifts. Because God values and loves each person He has made, His greatest mission is to secure those who will love Him in return by their own choice.

John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God…” Like most of us, God’s desire is for the gifts He has given to be received and enjoyed wholeheartedly. For God, His relationship (as the Giver) with those who receive the gifts from Him is of infinitely more importance than the gifts themselves.

Jesus shared with His disciples in John 14:27, “Not as the world gives do I give to you…” The world often gives from an ulterior motive, for what they can get out of it personally. God, however, gives to us for our good, that we may know His heart more and more, and that we may experience the joy of becoming like Him in our relationships with others.

If we would discover more of the heart of this God who gives, we must make the decision to not be those who merely admire from afar His characteristics as a Giver. Instead, we must be those who draw near to know personally the type of Giver that He is and always will be: a God of overflowing, extravagant goodness.

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