God’s Giving Strategy

Did you notice in my last post that each of the gift giving personalities or strategies were more about the one giving the gift then the recipient?  If I procrastinate, it is because I am not sure what to buy.  If I am a planner, it is because buying early helps me…etc…shopping_2309293b

What about the “perfect gift”?  This too, can be more about how we feel about the person, then what he / she would like.  If I love someone am  I more likely to search for a nice gift?  And, if I am giving out of a sense of obligation, am I more likely to quickly chose a so-so gift? And what about guilt?  If I feel guilty about the relationship, am I likely to buy a gift based on what will make me feel better?

Do we question God about we believe He uses similar giving strategies?  Such as, if God loves someone more then me, is He more willing to forgive, help, or even bless them than me? Does God give to all or just some?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him”.  John 3:16-17

The world…God so loved..sent His Son…not to judge…be saved through Him

The world  is all people and it is made up of sinners…“all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23) and apart from Jesus Christ the world is perishing, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord“. (Rom 6:23)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood we whall be saved from the wrath of God through Him”. Romans 5:8-9.

God loves all and shows His love by sending His Son.

He gives the free gift of salvation to all…who believe in His Son. 

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12)

The question is not God’s love, but our response to His love. Will we accept His gift…

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Gifting Personality

What is your gift giving personality?  I never thought about that before, until I read an article, recently.  It seems researchers have identified 5 gift giving personalities.  Christmas-Present3

1. Procrastinators.  People  who puts off shopping until the last minute, because they are worried buying the wrong gift.

2. Planners.  People who shops all year long with list in hand and gifts stuffed in the closet.  The danger is that they will forget where they hid the gifts!

3. Practical Givers.  These people usually get their checkbooks, because they believe you can’t go wrong with money.  Or they give a gift they want the recipient to have not necessarily one he/she would like.

4.  Do-Gooders.  These people give to the charity of their choice in recipeint’s name.

5.  Perfect Gift-Givers.  They aim to find something the recipient would like, even if they don’t really like it.  Of course one would have to know the recipient really well to find that perfect gift, or ask them for a list.

I would say I have been a mix of all five.  I definitely procrastinate buying for some people I am not sure what to get.  I have been a planner in the past, especially when my children were little and I had very little shopping time without them.  I am a practical giver, when I know $$ would be appreciated.  I have bought soccer balls and bibles in someone’s name, so I guess that would make me a do-gooder.  I would love to be considered a perfect gift-giver, but I won’t lose sleep if you don’t really like my gift and regift it.  It is the thought that matters…right?

How about you which gift giving personality do you have?  Leave a comment to let us know.

In the next post I will discuss lessons I have learned about giving from the Father of Christmas…

for more about this article go to: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/holiday/story/2011-11-27/gift-giving-personalities