For Me?

Birthdays! Weddings! Anniversaries! Christmas! Other special occasions! Or just because! What is something each of these have in common? Gifts! Sometimes when a gift is received it is gratefully accepted with the expression, “For me?”; words which may express both delight and surprise. However, are all gifts just “for me”? Are they all simply to be for personal benefit?

A number of years ago we decided to give our youngest son (in high school at the time) a gift (two tickets to a concert by “Jars Of Clay”) we thought he would enjoy for his birthday. Two tickets would allow him to invite a friend so he would not have to go alone. His choice, however, was for us (his parents) to go with him because he thought it was something we would also enjoy. Though we continued to ask if there wasn’t some friend he would rather take than his parents, our son made it clear he wanted us to go. The gift was for him, but he wanted to SHARE IT with us. We therefore ended up giving him three tickets for his birthday.

A willingness to SHARE a gift! In recent years I have heard on more than one occasion of a young child celebrating a birthday, but requesting donations be collected for some worthy cause rather than receiving presents. Perhaps such a desire naturally springs up from a recognition of being blessed and the importance of considering the needs (or desires) of others.

The church at Corinth, though blessed with many spiritual gifts, struggled in maintaining a proper focus on their usefulness for the common good. ( 1 Corinthians 12:7) Paul, reminding these Christians that being members of one body (the body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:27) there was to be a focus on mutual benefit.

Paul exhorted the church at Rome in a similar way when he wrote…
“(4) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, (5) so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (6) Having GIFTS THAT DIFFER according to the grace given to us, let us USE THEM: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (7) if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; (8) the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” ( Romans 12:4-8 ESV)

In what ever ways we may be gifted (abilities, talents, etc.) we are not to be boastful about it or keep it all to ourselves. Instead we are to consider the ways in which such can be SHARED for the benefit of others. Peter also urged those to whom he wrote that as each had received a gift they were to “use it to serve one another.” ( 1 Peter 4:10)

There is joy in receiving, but also in SHARING. SHARING in the lives of others (teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, etc.) in accordance with our maturing of faith in Christ increases the magnitude of that joy. Let us thank God for the abilities in which He helps us increase, being joyful that they are “for me”, but also with a focus of how that can be used “for us”. Any season is the season for giving and sharing in the lives of others.

Have a great day JOYFULLY SHARING WHAT WE HAVE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Sharing!