Gift Dissatisfaction

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:17&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:13-16&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209:20&version=NIV

Today.  The day after Christmas.  The day that marks the beginning of a week or so when millions of Americans will begin making their way back to stores.  Stores?  Really?  After all the shopping that was done pre-Christmas?  One would think that most people would be all shopped-out and avoid stores like the plague.  The reason why people will be flocking to stores varies.  Some people want to purchase reduced-price Christmas paper and other assorted items that didn't sell at regular price prior to the holiday.  Others will want to use any gift cards that they received for Christmas.  Or money.  This way they can still snatch up a bargain.  Or purchase something that they didn’t receive for Christmas.

People will also be flocking to stores to exchange gifts.  Gifts that don’t fit, don’t work, are the wrong color, etc.  Unfortunately, there will be few people who return almost everything they’ve received for Christmas.  Practically every family has one of these.  No matter what you buy for them, they don’t like it.  So you learn to just do the best you can.  And include the sales slip with the gift.  Since you know that they are going to return it.  I can’t help but think of people such as this as being ungrateful.  And selfish.  After all, when it comes right down to it, the gift is from the giver.  Sure they want to give you something that you like and can use.  But when we receive a gift we receive a piece of the giver.  A little of their style.  Their taste.  Their heart.  I think we’ve probably all received gifts that we would never have picked out for ourselves.  But because it was given to us by a spouse, a child or grandchild, a special friend, we treasure it.  We wouldn’t think of exchanging it.  Or giving it away.

The fact is that while gift-giving can be an act of love and selflessness, gift-receiving can be an act of ungratefulness and incredible selfishness.  Who knew?  I don’t think I understood this as a child.  But I’m sure that my parents did.  I’m sure they were disappointed and/or hurt when they scrimped and saved in order to buy me a gift for Christmas.  And I didn’t appreciate it.  Worse yet, I complained about it.  Or shoved it aside never to use it.  Or play with it. 

Unfortunately, we do the same thing with God.  James 1 tells us that every gift that we receive comes from His creative genius.  His loving hand.  How do we respond to them?  Well, many of us act like spoiled children.  Who aren’t happy with very much of anything.  We don’t like our looks.  We want to be taller.  Or shorter.  Fatter or skinnier.  We don’t like our nose.  Our ears.  Our chin.  The color of our hair.  (Today that can easily be changed.)  Then there is the whole category of talents and abilities.  The person who can sing wants to be an artist.  The person who can repair things wants to be an author.  The person who can teach wants to be the CEO of a company.  Last, but not least, there are all the possessions that we have.  Not too many people seem to be happy with these either.  If only we had an iPad.  Or an iPhone.  Or a bigger house.  Or a different vehicle.  Or....  At times it appears that almost nobody is happy with the gifts that God has given them.  Poor God!  It is a wonder that He hasn’t just thrown His hands up long ago in disgust because He doesn’t seem able to keep a single person happy.  Much less billions of them!

Again, going back to what I mentioned earlier, every gift that we receive bears a piece of the giver.  In that case, everything that we receive in this life - our looks, personality, talents, and possessions - all contain a piece of the Ultimate Giver.  God.  If that’s the case then shouldn’t we be happy with what we’ve received?  Shouldn’t we use them?  And value them?  And be thankful for them?  I think you know the answer.

What a lesson to learn the day after Christmas.  To accept who God made us to be.  And to be thankful for all the gifts that He has given us. 

Lord, I thank you for Your many gifts to me.  Help me to understand that every one of them is directly from Your hand.  And bears a piece of You. May I appreciate them.  And use them.  For my own benefit.  The benefit of others.  And Your glory.  In Jesus' name, Amen.