The Lies We Believe about God by Chris Thurman

Author:Chris Thurman [Thurman, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL012000 Religion / Christian Life / General
Publisher: David C Cook

GOD: THE TRUE GIFT GIVER

When we think about God as Santa Claus, we self-indulgently come up with wish lists to present to Him in our prayers and wait with breathless anticipation for those gifts to appear. But, of course, God and Santa Claus aren’t the same person. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about God being the true giver of gifts.

God Finds Great Pleasure in Giving Gifts

God loves to give gifts. You can see that about Him throughout the Bible. It brings God great pleasure to give us the things that are good for us to have. Healthy parents feel that way toward their kids: they experience a great deal of pleasure giving their children things that will help make their journeys through life healthier and more meaningful.

Notice, though, I said that it brings God great enjoyment to give us “things that are good for us to have.” No parents in their right minds would give their children gifts that are not good for them. We wouldn’t give young children a set of steak knives to play with. Clearly, doing so would not be in their best interest and possibly would even be lethal. God takes the same approach with us. He loves to give us gifts, but only those that are good and healthy for us to have, not bad and harmful. Jesus said, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9–11). If you’re a loving parent and your child comes to you with either a valid need or an understandable desire, you gladly give her what she asked for.

For God, every day is Christmas: He looks forward to leaving good things for us under the tree, things He is happy for us to enjoy. When we have things on our wish lists that are good—in the same way that Solomon wanted to be wise—God is delighted to give them to us. When we ask God for bread, He is going to give us bread, not a stone.

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