I knew that giving is a theme from the heart of God, but I never really put it into a big picture. It is a BIG theme in the desires of God's heart. Proverbs 18:16 says it is a key to opening doors into the presence of great men, a means of making room for you in a place where perhaps there wasn't room.
For the next few days I want to make note of the verses and occassions that share this principle, and help me see the bigger picture.
Subject: making room. There was no room in the Inn for Joseph and Mary the night of Jeus' birth. The inn keeper is often portrayed as crass for putting them up in the barn with the animals, but he made room for them, somewhere. We aren't told in the story that Joseph gave the Inn keeper a gift. But the gift to the inn keeper and the world was the baby himself. Knowing that a baby was about to be born, this man had enough passion to find them room where there wasn't any. But another story of gifts is found in the nativity story. The shepherds brought what they had to share when they came immediately to visit the newborn. But their best gift was one of praise.
About the time Jesus was two, the Magi came bearing gifts, and the used some of those gifts to gain access to King Herod. And upon finding Jesus, they gave their best gifts, to the greater King. Herod is the picture of the antithesis of the principle, for he did not make room in his life for a more precious King. Instead he focused on the threat that someone might take his place, and he let jealousy, and fear over take his heart and mind. To the point of seeking small innocent children, and having them killed. He let Satan convince him a baby was a threat to his kingdom. He was king of the Jews. Yet he knew nothing of a messiah King.
Lord, open my eyes to the greater gifts, and the bigger picture. Help me as I study gifts and giving to see you working. Help me grow to be a giver of good gifts. AMEN
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