Experiencing God through His gifts can seem inseparable from experiencing and having a relationship with God. His blessings can abound – physical blessings of food and shelter, peace and freedom to worship, friends and family. These are all experienced directly. Enjoying all these gifts can also be a sign that we love the Giver. Recall when you received something you liked from a loved one – when you express great joy over the gift, your loved one will feel your love too.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying God’s gifts. However, these gifts cannot be compared to the Giver. Psalm 73:25 says: “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” Psalm 42:1 says: “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” The Bible models the right priorities for us – our primary love is for the Father, and not His gifts.
1 Tim 6:17 says: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” This verse reminds us that when God is the root and foundation of all the things that we enjoy, these gifts are wonderful. But when God is removed and the gifts themselves become the centre and focus, these gifts turn into idols.
So, it’s clear that we are called to love the Giver, as our exceeding joy, while enjoying His gifts. Yet, it’s easy to value God not for who He is, but for the gifts that He has blessed us with. We should watch ourselves, and grow to love the Giver more and more, while enjoying His gifts.
How do we do that? Practically, here are some tips.
First, recall that all these were made possible with Christ’s sacrifice. Romans 8:32 says: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” God can bless richly, and these blessings flow from the hope of redemption that we have. When we receive gifts from God, we remember that the source of this – why we can even enjoy that gift in the first place – is from Christ’s sacrifice. The source of all these blessings is Christ’s great love. Another way to see this, is that Christ is the foundational gift, the main gift. All other blessings are supplementary.
Second, watch our entitlement. Do we sometimes feel entitled to these gifts? The Bible reminds us, in Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” We are to take up our cross, and deny ourselves. We are owed no gifts. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says: “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” If we are not living for ourselves, but for Christ, then we must catch our sense of entitlement. Enjoy the gifts that we are blessed with, but come not to expect these. Remind ourselves that the only thing that we are entitled to, without Christ’s sacrifice, would have been condemnation.
Third, watch our response to suffering. We all face trials and difficulties in our lives. Some can be small, some major and difficult to bear. What’s our response? We may feel anger, despair, unfairness, and emotional turmoil. But at the end of the day, we remember that we still have God - The greatest gift of all. Oftentimes, the hardest sayings are spoken plainly in the Bible. Job 1:21 says: “And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Fourth, to simply pray about this. Make time for deep fellowship with God. When we have a deeper relationship with gifts than the giver, naturally it is difficult to love the giver more. Imagine winning a top prize during your company Dinner and Dance. A new phone that you wanted – and someone tells you, hey, you need to love your company more than the phone. This can sound absurd, as most of us don’t have such relationships with our companies. It is the same with God. Pray, and spend time, that we may grow in our love for Him.
Ask yourself:
Why are we to love the Giver and not the gift?
What is needed when one decides to follow Christ?
What are some other practical tips to help us value God for who He is and love Him more and more each day?
Suggested Answers:
God is the source of all things that we enjoy (1 Tim 6:17).
One needs to deny himself and put his sins to death (Mt 16:24).
You may discuss this with the writer or your Bible class teacher.