Free Gifts

"Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all (that gives) light, in the shining of Whom there can be no variation (rising or setting) or shadow cast by His turning (as in an eclipse)" (James 1:17 Amp.).

Everyone enjoys getting something free, however insignificant it may be. I am a coupon clipper and advertisements really catch my eye when it says, "Buy one, get one free." Actually it would truly be 'free' if I didn't have to 'buy' the first item. There is an old song that was sung by Frank Sinatra that says,

"The moon belongs to everyone, the best things in life are free;
The stars belong to everyone, they gleam there for you and me.
The flowers in spring, the robins that sing,
The moonbeams that shine, they're yours, their mine.
And love can come to everyone, The best things in life are free."

I am sure Mr. Sinatra didn't know that the words to this song were scriptural, but in I Tim.6:17 it says, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." It doesn't say we do good works to get all things to enjoy or that we trust in our riches (because we deserve them), but it is the living God, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

It is the next two verses that tell us how we are given the best gift of all, "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, liberal and generous of heart, willing to share with others; laying up for themselves riches that endure forever as a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

It is not that we do good works and be generous so we may earn the best gift of all, but so we may grasp that which is really life (Eph.2:8-9). It is because of our faith we have already received the best gift of all, eternal life, and because of that gift, we may demonstrate our love and faith in Christ (Jas.2:14-26). Our good works, out of love, is our gift to the recipients of our works, asking nothing in return - "free."

Because God is love, good gifts are the only kind that God can or will give. Even the things in our lives we consider bad can be turned into good for us if we trust God to be good and fit into His plans for that situation (Rom.8:28). After the storm is over, after the break of day, if our trust has remained steadfast we will clearly see that the storm and the darkness was for our good - a good gift from God. God may have given us this storm or darkness to discipline us or to teach us to trust Him in the middle of our tribulation and to show us He is trustworthy to keep us, provide for us in the middle, or deliver us out of our storms. We are to be thankful for the storm and while we are in the storm (I Thess,5:18 & Eph.5:20). We thank Him for Keeping us in the storm; that His power (grace) is sufficient for us to stand secure while the winds and darkness swirls around us; that our faith is being strengthened; that others can see how our God can keep us in the darkest night and bring us out into the Light stronger than when we went in; how God's promises are proven true in the most dire circumstances. We thank God for the gift of grace to go through the very valley of the shadow of death and that He is always enough!

The calm and peace after the storm and the breaking of Light after the darkness are good, full and beautiful gifts from our Father. "He makes everything beautiful in its time" (Eccl.3:11). This beauty is a gift from the "Father of Lights," and He never changes!

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE
Annie Johnson Flint

He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again!