To the Giving of Gifts there is No End: Humor by Josprel (standard:humor, 886 words)
Author: Josprel	Added: Aug 09 2006	Views/Reads: 3328/4	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
I am of the opinion we live in a society where gift-giving runs rampant. We are expected to give gifts at almost every turn: Engagement gifts, shower gifts, marriage gifts, baby gifts, birthday gifts are some; but the list is much longer!

*Name changed to insure privacy 

To the Giving of Gifts There is No End by Josprel 

I am of the opinion that we live in a society where unfounded gift
giving has run rampant. Nonetheless, my wife, Maria, - who incidentally 
doesn't agree with me on the issue - is a liberal gift-giver. I claim 
that I am a conservative in that area.  I use the word “conservative” 
in order to avoid using the terms “cheap-skate and “tight-wad,” terms 
that I think inappropriate to describe my attitude. 

Now, let's be candid on this point. We are expected to give gifts at
almost every turn in our lives: Engagement gifts, shower gifts, 
marriage gifts, baby gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, house 
warming gifts, employer and employee gifts, get well gifts, farewell 
gifts, welcome gifts, monetary gifts to the families of the deceased 
(something I find a warm, caring gesture), to name a few; however the 
list is much longer than this. 

But even in the caring gesture of monetary gifts to loved ones of the
dearly departed, some get carried away. As an example of this, *Mario, 
one of my brothers-in-law, will go to extreme lengths to collect money 
for the families of relatives, friends and acquaintances, who have 
suffered the loss of a family member. It's a considerate, touching 
gesture, and one to which I have always generously responded – until he 
heard that one of his third cousins, who lived some 1,500 miles from us 
had passed away.  Mario, himself, had met the man only once; I had 
never met him – didn't even know he existed. That made no difference to 
Mario; he hopped in his Buick and visited all those on his long 
“come-on-let's-give-list, including his nearby first, second and third 
cousins, and his siblings, leaving Maria and me for last. 

“Look here, Mario,” I remonstrated, “I don't mind contributing to the
families of those I know. But I draw the line at contributing to the 
funeral expenses of someone I of whom I've never heard, who lives 1,500 
miles away.” 

My comment didn't faze Mario. As the eldest of Maria's siblings and my
senior by several years, he felt it his duty to set the example in how 
to deal with relatives when it came to the giving of gifts. He is an 
unwavering gift-giver. I contributed. 

Sincere believers sometimes are at a loss regarding how to view the
practice of gift-giving. The Bible offers the answer. God, himself, was 
the first Christmas gift-giver. In 2nd Corinthians 9:15, the Apostle 
Paul exclaimed, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” The gift 
to which Paul referred is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The word “gift” in this scripture finds its root in the Greek word
“dora.” It literally means “a present.”  Therefore the three Magi did 
not give the first Christmas presents. God the Father presented it to 
humanity in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible further 
reveals that all three Persons of the Godhead are gift-givers and 
salvation, itself, is a gift from Triune God to us (Ephesians 2:8). 

Referring to the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 4:8-14 records that: “When
He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts 
(presents) unto men.” The presents Christ Jesus gives to the Church are 
ministerial in nature – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and 
teachers (some Bible scholars link the last two together as 
pastor-teachers). 

Christ gives these ministry gifts for a definite purpose (verses 12-13):
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for 
the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of 
the faith . . . unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of 
Christ.” 

The Holy Spirit not only is a giver of gifts, He also is a gift to us.
According to Acts 2:38, the Apostle Peter refers to the Holy Spirit as 
a gift: “ . . . ye shall receive the gift (present) of the Holy 
Spirit.”   In Acts 8:20, the Spirit is called   “ . . . the gift of 
God.” 

Jesus promised He would send us the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit.
It is evident then that that the Holy Spirit is the gift given to us by 
God the Father and by Jesus Christ His Son. Both have made us a present 
of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is a giver of gifts. 1st Corinthians 12:4 teaches,  “. 
.  . there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” In this 
passage the word gifts is rooted in a word different than the word 
“dora.”  Here it derived from the Greek word “charisma,” defined as a 
“gratuity, a freely given favor.” In giving us His gifts, the Holy 
Spirit has granted them as free favors, gratuitously. 

God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the blessed Holy Spirit are
the ultimate, supreme gift-givers. Therefore, in presenting gifts 
believers are following a pattern established by the Supreme Godhead. 
As we emulate their example in this, we should also emulate their 
attitude; that of being openhanded, generous and loving, remembering 
that “God so loved the world that he gave  . . .” 

Mario is correct; God's children must be generous in their generosity.
-30- © 2006; by Josprel (Joseph Perrello) josprel@verizon.net 


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