Say, a college student’s parents gave her a car as a birthday gift. The car wasn’t given to the daughter because she was awesome. The car actually tells something about
her parents: their generosity and capability to provide.
There are these different gifts –teaching, visions, tongues,
prophecy, management, giving, exhortation –and these gifts were given not according to one’s worth.
One may have received teaching, the other, a “greater” gift,
let’s say prophecy. That doesn’t mean that the other –the one given the greater
gift is greater than the one who received teaching. The Giver is not bound by a
human’s emotional limitations, nor by that tendency to acquire a pointing
system. No, He does as he pleases.
The receiver then, knowing the wiles of his heart, and in
view of the Giver’s kindness, drops into sobs of thankfulness, humbled by his
grace. He prays that he may use the gifts well and wise.
It’s good to remember that whenever we use a gift,
everything boils down to how mighty the Giver is. It’s not about how many
people were saved, encouraged or thought we were cool and so on.
I remember C. S. Lewis’ story of a boy who asked his father
for a sixpence (a small amount of English currency), bought a gift, and gave it
to his father as happy as can be. His father was too, was very happy. But he
also knew that he didn’t get any richer.
It’s cute alright, and very true at the same time. Funny how
it shows the sentiments of a receiver and the amazing kindness of our
Father.
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