The Perfect Gift
Gifts make the heart merry. Such brings joy and builds relationship. They show how much people care for and love you. Gifts are cherished and bring emotional healing. They can go as far as making room for people. They are also a pacifier. “A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16 KJV “A gift in secret pacifieth anger: And a reward in the bosom strong wrath.” Proverbs 21:14 KJV.
This time of the year is when gifts fly around the atmosphere for grabbing. Usually with mixed feelings, some get what they want or expected while some get nothing at all or are disappointed with what they got. To others, it is a pleasant surprise. I remember an advert years ago with a man wearing an ill-fitted jumper from a Christmas present. His face was hilarious. It is a time people remember their loved ones who passed on with tears, especially seeing others with their family members. Children look forward to it, as if it is the first week of school. While some children are happy, some are not because they have no story to tell. Well, that is life.
Sadly, some people buy their own gift and send it off to their address to arrive same time others are getting theirs. They want to feel like others, but unfortunately, it is not the same. They have no relative, no loved ones and no one remembers them. It is usually a hard time for some people, especially underprivileged children.
There are gifts that matter the most to everyone, irrespective of who you are. They are free! These are the gifts that count most. They neither wear out nor are used up. They are everlasting, good, and perfect and comes from our father with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning. There is no agenda in His giving. He will not regret His gifts. He does not give to buy you out; He does not give out of hypocrisy. It is not like the ones people give as tradition, it is not ‘give me, I give you’, the one that obligates people to gift back. Not the one that comes once in a year, not the gold that came from the dust. Gifts from man wear out, get lost, and may not even be wanted. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV.
What are these gifts?
1. Gift of the Holy Spirit. That is the gift I want; I am sure you want it too. The Holy Spirit that will give us wisdom, comfort us, guide us in all truth, and is the gift that will remain with us from January 1 to December 31. The one that will last 24/7, not the temporal one. The permanent gift. With the new year resolution set to be written, if you don’t have this gift to guide you through them, none will be achieved. By June, you would have forgotten that you made a list. Acts 2:38 KJV.
2. The gift of eternal life. If it is possible to live forever, we all want to, but sin does not allow us.
The gift of eternal life renews our mind, reshapes us, takes away bad habits, brings forgiveness. With the assurance of eternal life, you will not fear peril or sickness because you know you will spend eternal life with God. Romans 6:23 KJV
3. The gift of Grace. What can we do without grace? The grace of God has kept us through the thick and thin of 2020/21. “according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” Ephesians 3:7 KJV.
4. The gift of Salvation. The free gift of our Lord Jesus. I want that gift as not all gifts come freely. Freedom from sin and the world. God gave us His only begotten son. The best gift to mankind. Ephesians 2:8 KJV.
5. Gift of good health. If you are fit and healthy and run about your business with no restriction, it is a gift. If you can juggle through several jobs at a time, it is a gift, as some cannot keep one. Many are in the hospital bed; some are gone, or bed ridden. Remember, some are in the prison. So, praise God for that. Ecclesiastes 3:13 KJV.
6. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” That I can be offended, and God gave the grace to forgive. Unspeakable gift of joy, peace, gentleness, meekness, forbearance. We all enjoy these gifts; we want good children, gentle neighbours, and nice people around us. 2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV
7. Spiritual gifts. So many of them: the gift of prophecy, healing, speaking in tongues, wisdom, discernment, and many others. You can go into 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14 and help yourself with as many as you want. They are the best gifts. You don’t buy them, there is no courier, there are no delays in delivery. They are free to shop. The excellent way is charity, love.
8. The gift of righteousness. Right standing with God. You owe no man anything. No ill, no malice, no bitterness, no jealousy, no anger. It is a gift. A little gesture these days thrills people because there is not a lot happening for them again. Romans 5:17 KJV.
Gift should be an everyday occurrence, not just for the end of the year. Please don’t wait till the end of the year to send your gifts.
The other side of gifts
Some come with ulterior motives and intentions. Although the outside is appealing, the inside has a hidden agenda. It comes with a hook to catch you. It blinds the wise. Many have been blinded by the gift brought to them. “And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.” Exodus 23:8 KJV, Proverbs 17:23 KJV.
At work, managers have perverted judgment, governments have been lobbied with gifts, leaders have sold their birth rights to gifts. Don’t let any gift hush you. These gifts can be quite expensive, cars, houses, beware! Don’t give such gifts. It buys people over and silences their sense of judgement. Give your gift with a perfect heart and not to pervert judgement.
Like Daniel, reject it. It will lure you to sin and divide your home.
“Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.” Daniel 5:17 KJV.
At church, it closes the eyes of preachers to iniquity. How many people have wedded people in their second or third marriage because they brought a gift? How many have stopped talking about fraud and thrift because they get handouts from the culprits? It is commonplace to not offend those who are looking after you, and this has taken the order of the day.
“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” Deuteronomy 16:19 KJV.
False gift are like clouds that hold no water, Proverbs 25:14 KJV. It boasts of its giving and tells of it. False gifts have destroyed both old and young people, Ecclesiastes 7:7 KJV They have been lured into sin, killed, raped, and maimed for life because a false gift was offered to them. Abraham rejected it from the king of Sodom. “that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:” Genesis 14:23 KJV.
Peter rejected it from Simon because you cannot buy the gift of God with money.
“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” Acts 8:20 KJV
Remember that gifts attract all sorts. Every man will hang around you. If you are a man of gifts, people will boot lick. “Many will intreat the favour of the prince: And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.” Proverbs 19:6 KJV.
