I have a question to ask each of you today... What kind of a "giver"
would you consider yourself? What kind of a "giver" would others say you
are? In answering that question, what ruler were you measuring yourself
with? Was it done in comparison to others and the way they give - or don't
give? Did you come out being able to answer "I'm a good giver!" after
comparing yourself only to those who might be poor givers? Or in answering
that question, did you compare yourself to the greatest giver of all,
God Himself?
I want to look today at the kind of "giver" that the Lord is. Turn with
me back to the book of James chapter 1, where we'll spend some time looking
at verse 17....
"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."
Isn't it interesting that James fit this verse into the first chapter
of his book right after writing about trials and temptations and how to
handle them... Why? Because he knew that one of the ways the devil tries
to deceive us into losing hope, into falling into manifold temptations,
is by first getting us to believe that God is a lousy giver, One who holds
out on us! But is that true? No, it's a lie! The sooner we realize that,
the less likely we will be to fall into temptation, amen? We are lured
into temptation because we believe there is something better for us in
the "forbidden fruit", that which we aren't supposed to have. Like Eve,
we doubt that God really wants to give to us happiness or pleasure and
so we seek it out for ourselves. Ladies, once you start to doubt God's
goodness and His character as a giver, you are more easily attracted to
the offers of Satan himself! The devil wants us to believe that God is
not a giver at all, to cause us to lose hope in our trials, and to cause
us to treat ourselves to a little temptation every now and then! Don't
fall for His sneaky tactics.... We need to recognize God as the giver
He truly is, as seen through this portion of scripture today.
Our verse states, "every GOOD gift and every PERFECT gift". Let me say
that these are the only kinds of gifts God knows how to give! If it comes
from God, it must be good! Even if we don't see it that way.... What makes
it good is WHO it came from, not who received it, or how it was given,
or even the form it came in - such as a trial, perhaps. God makes the
gift perfect and good because HE is the originator!
Psalm 119:68, "Thou art good, and doest good...."
I don't know if you've ever done this before, but I take a moment to pray
in my car in the parking lot before entering the store when purchasing
a gift for someone. I say, "Lord, you know the best gift of all for this
person, please direct me to it and help me to pick out what would be just
right for them." Many times I have had the person tell me after opening
the gift, "This is just what I needed! I was just praying for this the
other day..." It's such a blessing when that happens, because I received
not only an answer to prayer for direction, but the person received the
"perfect gift"! God is perfect in His giving, therefore, we can be too!
The next part of that verse says, "and COMETH down". This is descriptive
of the kind of giving that never stops... Scripture doesn't say, "and
CAME down", so that it sounds like it happened once and is now over. It's
an active giving! Our God gives to us constantly, over and over again.
Even when we don't recognize His gifts, He is still giving them! His character
as a giver is not hindered by our ability to understand His giving. Do
you only give to those who will appreciate your giving? Or are you able
to give in spite of someone recognizing and/or acknowledging your giving?
Sometimes we are called to give like that in our homes.... Sometimes our
husbands and children don't recognize or acknowledge our giving immediately
- will we stop because of that? Or will we keep on giving because of the
condition of our hearts as givers? If others don't SEE your giving, do
you still give behind the scenes? Just what is your giving rooted in today
- receiving something in return? Praise and glory, perhaps? I need to
tell you that is NOT sacrificial giving, that is giving simply to get!
It's manipulation at it's finest, and it's SIN.... How often have you
given to your husband, dear wife, in order to get your own way somewhere
else?? Check your motives today for giving, won't you? Our verse says
those good and perfect gifts come down "from the Father of LIGHTS" - there
should be no darkness attached to our giving, the darkness of manipulation!
Give with a pure heart, a heart controlled by the Father of lights!
1 John 1:5, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and
declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
Think for a moment how often you've held back in your giving because of
the condition of the one who would receive your gift.... Have you ever
bought a better gift for a person you really liked, and a lesser gift
for the person you weren't so crazy about, perhaps nothing at all? If
so, do you realize that your giving hinges on the character of the receiver,
and not on God's character prevailing within you? You are nothing more
than a "conditional giver".... It's time we all reminded ourselves with
Romans 5:8 of how God gave, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us." This should be our
attitude as we give, amen? You see, it's possible for someone to give
in a manner that is less than loving... Not only is everything God gives
good, the WAY God gives is also good, it's a loving way! Is yours too?
John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I
have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends."
Just as there is nothing we can do to earn God's gift of salvation, so
also there is also nothing we can do to lose it! Unfortunately, there
are many false doctrines being taught today proclaiming that salvation
can be lost. It would be against God's character as a giver to take back
what He freely gives! 2 Timothy 2:13 says, "If we believe not, yet he
abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself." (see also Romans 8:38&39 and
2 Tim. 1:12) Even though man is fickle and we might change in our beliefs,
our feelings, our attitudes, AND our giving, God however, does not embrace
the slightest shadow of change! He cannot change for the worse because
He is holy. He cannot change for the better, because He is already perfect!
James 1:17, ".....with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning."
What happens when others sin against us, hurt us, disappoint us? Do we
change according to their sin, according to who they are? Or do we remain
givers, according to the character of God dwelling and reigning within
our hearts? Ladies, if you and I are rooted in the Lord, we CAN give -
and continue to give - in spite of the shortcomings of others! Realize
today that if you've been born again, you possess the divine, GIVING nature
of God... Our heavenly Father is a consistent giver and so must we be,
amen?
1 Cor. 2:12, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God."
In closing, take a moment to consider God's goodness in your life... I'm
so glad that the Lord gave to me in spite of my not understanding what
His death meant on Calvary, the ultimate sacrificial gift. I'm so glad
He gave to me even when I did not recognize myself a sinner in need of
a Savior. God's giving didn't change based on me not seeing the gift He
gave! God's giving didn't depend on my character at all.... It was based
on HIS character, on HIS love for me. I was unworthy to receive His good
and perfect gift, yet He still gave to me! I lived many years of my life
never noticing the many ways that God was giving to me every day and yet
He remained consistent when I did not ever praise Him or once acknowledge
Him. I'm so thankful now He gave so liberally to me, how could I not care
to learn how to become a perfect giver? A giver like God Himself.... Won't
you join me?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000
Pamela A. Iannello
