A common cliché during the Christmas season is that “It isn’t about gettin’, it’s about givin’.†It’s a favorite line in Hallmark Movies and church, Christmas cantatas. And to be fair, it bears resemblance to the biblical truth that it’s more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35).
However, if we aren’t careful, this sentiment will begin to make about as much sense as that old country song, “I’m My Own Grandpa.†What have you ever given that you did not first receive? When have you ever been autonomously generous? Who can give unto God, as if He needed anything (Acts 17:25)? Everything you’ve ever given was borrowed.
You give a gift. But God gave you the job to make the money to buy the gift, as well as the mind which picked out the perfect present, as well as the two hands which wrapped it up, as well as every heartbeat you had in the process.
Never think that your generosity can stand on its own two feet. Otherwise it turns you into a smarmy, self-righteous character, right out of the aforementioned Hallmark movie. You are a creature, made to imitate your creator…not rival Him. We’re like a toddler who––with his father joyfully watching––uses the remote control as a phone, perfectly mimicking the way the father talks on phone.
Our giving is always a receiving from God. We give praise unto God; but He graciously gave us new hearts which desire to praise Him in the first place. Our gift-giving is a creaturely imitation of God Almighty. God made this world, gave us existence, and filled this world with things He wants us to give to each other. We give gifts because our Father made all the molecules in this universe.
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