A gift generally brings joy both to the giver and the given. But from a
Christian standpoint, what is a real gift?
An Asian student walked guardedly to to his mailbox. He had recently
arrived in the USA and discovered that both Seminary and society were daunting and
different. Far from family, friendship was now a challenge and letters from home would be
long in coming.
What was this? In his mailbox lay a big book, bound in blue and touched
with gold. It was a Bible Concordance, a real resource for researchers. Was it a mistake?
A joke? A gift?! Surely not a gift. Nursing it longingly, he walked away, hardly daring to
look over his shoulder. Could this be his, for him to use in his studies? Free?
Diligent inquiries over the next few days led him to a lady. "Why?
You hardly know me," he asked. "You need it. I expect you to use it well,"
she replied. "Use it well? Use it well for what?" thought the thankful student.
For good grades? Suddenly the significance of her act struck him. The lady's sight did not
stop at grades but went beyond to service, service for Christ and His kingdom. Her act did
not only bring glory to God in the present, but was a prayerful investment that she hoped
would continue to bring Him glory. Her gift was a generous investment for godliness,
for life. or gift was a real gift. The student is now a teacher. The student has
become the sower.