Dec 22nd Giving

A friend of mine has just taken delivery of a new guitar.    Not just any guitar.  This one was hand built for her.  She went to choose the piece of wood from which it was to be carved.  It has been designed and made to her exact specification and she has paid a fortune for it.   But she is over the moon now that she finally has it in her hands after months of waiting.   Its like a new baby.

I made some comment on her facebook page about it not becoming an idol -  I was joking.  Karen is a worship leader and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that her new guitar will be used to lead people into Gods presence and to worship Him for years, maybe decades to come.
But it did get me thinking   - what would Karen do if God just told her to give her new guitar to someone?   This new pride and joy.   The thing for which she has saved up and then helped design and waited patiently for.   This once in a lifetime extravagant gift to herself.    What if God said '  OK Karen, time to give it away' ?

Have you ever been challenged to give something?   I dont mean christmas and birthday presents or passing on something we no longer need.   I mean have you ever felt a prompting to give what you could not afford.  Give away something very very precious to you?   Give when you really could have done with being on the receiving end yourself??     I have.   And I know a few others who have too.

Just the other week I stumbled into a conversation with a couple in church.  I know they are struggling financially and have been for a while.   Life is very tight for them and they have to go without things which most of us would take for granted.  The do their own household repairs cos they cant afford to get anyone in to do them...... they drive an old car and when it needs to be fixed its always a pressure.    But they have a strong and amazing faith and have seen God provide for them time after time in amazing ways.   Last week they felt God had told them to give a financial gift to someone else in church.    I have no idea how much it was - but I know that however much they probably couldnt afford it.  They were joyful in the giving - excited and delighted at the thought that they would be blessing someone else.   Wonderful stuff

Jesus loves the attitude which understands that everything we have comes from God and therefore we can give freely knowing and trusting that He will supply all our needs.   The widow's mite was more valuable than the thousands given by those to whom it made no difference.

God knows what it is like to give the most precious and valuable thing He had.   His own son.
Karen might find it very hard to give away her guitar if God asked her to - but I know her and she would probably do it.   Were God to ask her to give away her only son............  well that would be a different story.  Her son was a miracle baby who came after years of trying to conceive.  He is an adult now,   he has brought her much joy.   Would she be able to give him up if God asked her to?   Like Abraham would I be able to lay Sam or Josh or Ben on the altar and say ' God, you do what you want to do with him'?
Theoretically we can all say that our children are a gift from God and that they are His.   But in reality........

And yet this is what God does for us. He gives us a gift.  The most valuable and precious, unique and prized gift He could possibly give.  The gift of His own son.   So that we could know who God is and what He is like, so that we could be forgiven of our sins, fall in love with Him be adopted by Him and be called His sons and daughters too.


Lord, this Christmas as we give and receive gifts please help our giving not to be superficial and worthless.  Help us to listen to You and follow your promptings so that we might give what is truly required.   Help us to see the needs around us and respond.   You are a giving loving God.  We want to be more like you.  Thank you for the most precious and costly gift of all - your son Jesus.  As we look at our own children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews this Christmas may we be ever more grateful at the depth of Your love for us.