Gifts We Give God

I was unsure how to approach this week's topic at first. It seems that most of the types of gifts we give to God (at least the ones that come first to my mind) are those that we give to our fellowmen. Like service projects, providing for those in need, preaching the gospel, or donating to a worthy cause--all similar things to last week's topic:

Matthew 25:40  

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

So I turned the question upside-down. Instead of asking what gifts I can give to God, I asked myself, "What gifts am I holding back from God?"

Gifts We Hold Back

Asking this question opened my heart and mind to the types of gifts that we can only give to God. Rather than give my own example of what I mean, let me share a parable from the Lord:

Matthew 19:16-22

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,  

19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  

20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Do you think this parable was really only about material possessions or giving to the poor? Like this rich young ruler, many of us say to ourselves, “I am doing all the things the Lord has asked me to do.” What holds many of us back are not the things that we are doing (right or wrong), but rather the things that we will not let go of in our hearts.

You know what I am talking about. Those selfish little vices. Those “favorite little sins.” Perhaps there is a person that you have not forgiven. Maybe you have refused to take accountability for something that you did wrong. Perhaps there is a talent you refuse to use or cultivate. For most of us holding our gifts back from the Lord usually boils down to laziness, apathy, doubt, anger or pride.

What We Can We Do About It
Change laziness to diligence. Change apathy to willingness. Change doubt to faith. Change anger to love. Change pride to humility. But how?

Exodus 35:5 

Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart , let him bring it, an offering of the Lord;...,

As this scripture illustrates, we need two things: 1.) A willing heart. 2.) To bring it to the Lord.

The gifts of the heart that we give to God do not always come instantly because we have been holding onto the polar opposite for so long. Sometimes we can flip the switch and give our hearts to Him all at once. But other times (if not most) we have to consciously work on incrementally giving our hearts to God. We need to simply be willing to try, with a hope and a prayer that He will help you remove the negative and fill it with the positive. Giving our hearts is really just another way to describe faith. 

Just remember that giving God your heart is not all or nothing from the start. It is a willingness to start and actually do it. In truth, He does want all our hearts in the end, but He realizes that it takes time for us to get there. Remember, “The Lord looketh on the heart” (1Samuel 16:7). Which means that the Lord sees your willingness, as well as sincere efforts and desires.

So this Christmas, ask yourself, “What gifts am I holding back from God?” Then you will know the gift you need to start giving to God this year.

May we all find within ourselves a willing heart and bring it to Him this Christmas.

Merry Christmas!