|
|
 |
Give The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Dee Bowman
That’s a trite expression, albeit a true one. It
makes sense to give a gift that lasts. Gifts that don’t keep
giving are superficial, impermanent. Gifts that last say something
special about both the giver and the recipient. They suggest that
there was considerable thought which went into the giving. More
often than not, if a gift keeps on giving it shows that the giver
genuinely cares for the recipient. May I suggest some gifts that
keep on giving? Please be advised, they are all gifts that anyone
can give–not matter who they are, rich or poor.
Be kind. Kindness is a gift, one not given much today, but a
great one nonetheless. Kindness is a gift that procreates itself.
One kind deed may generate dozens of similar acts before it wears
itself out, or someone breaks the chain. It keeps on giving because
there are so many different ways to give it. It costs nothing and
yet it’s worth a lot. If “brotherly kindness” is “in you and
abounds,” it brings forth wonderful fruit (II Pet. 1:8). Kindness
is a great gift–one that keeps on giving.
Say something good. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of
gold in pictures of silver” (Prov. 25:11). Words paint beautiful
pictures, most of the time moving pictures. Good words travel fast;
they tend to generate more good words as they move along. Say
something good to someone early in the morning and it will likely
move around all day. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,”
Solomon said (Prov. 15:4). Remember, all that good fruit started
with just one little seed. Did you ever notice that when you
compliment someone, they can’t wait to return the favor? See? Kind
words just keep on giving.
Be a friend. A friend is a gift that never stops giving. Want
to give a great gift? Be a friend. Who can calculate the value of a
friend, one that “loveth at all times” (Prov. 12:17), one that
is always there, day after day, through all kinds of weather? Good
friendships grow over time; they keep on giving. A good friend is a
gift from God. And,“what a friend we have in Jesus!” He is at
once the Gift and the Giver; and He never stops giving the gift.
Give yourself a gift. Read more Bible. “The entrance of thy
words giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple” (Psalm
119:130). Light and understanding are continuous gifts that come
from the word of God. You can’t exhaust them. The more light you
get, the better you see. The more understanding you get, the better
you do. Bible reading enhances every relationship in your life. If
you read the Bible you will be a better parent, a better teenager, a
better worker, a better grandparent or friend. You’ll even be a
better enemy. Bible reading gives, and gives, and gives, all the
days of your life.
But we’ve not yet discussed the gift of all gifts. There is a gift
you can give that keeps on giving past this life and all the way
into eternity. It is a gift that never quits giving–never. Think
about that–never. It’s the gift of salvation.
You want to give the gift of gifts? Bring someone to Jesus.
Bring them to know the Lord. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!
In John 1:41, we are told that Andrew first found Peter and brought
him to Jesus, saying, “We have found the Messiah! Look at all the
good that came from Andrews’ bringing Peter to Jesus. Thousands
and thousands of people were saved; and are still being saved. And
it all began with that simple gift Andrew gave his brother and the
gift of “the keys to the kingdom” given him later by the Lord.
You can give that same gift of salvation to someone.
You can give no greater gift than to bring someone to Jesus. You
don’t know what may come of it. It could be the reason for many
persons being saved. It’s the gift with eternal consequences.
Bring someone to Jesus and you give them the most precious gift of
all. Oh, Gift of all Gifts! It just keeps on giving.
Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Southside
Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
|
|
