Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Gifts are interesting things. They have power. Good gifts can energize, rejuvenate, enable, encourage, and propel others to greatness. There is a saying, you can’t out-give God. While this is true, I think the process is a little different. We really aren’t supposed to out-give God anyways. The reality is that God is giving us good gifts all day long — all the time. He is the Father of Good Gifts. So, what is it about giving, that makes us see and receive these good gifts God gives us more readily? In my life, my eyes open up more to truly see God’s gifts when I give in return.

Recently, I was given gifts of service by a family member. He helped us fix our sprinkler system last year. This year, he helped us set up our drip system for watering our planter garden. And I see the fruits of this. I see green grass and well-watered vegetables — broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and even eggplant. And these gifts, as they produce the fruit they were designed for, create the opportunity for me to give. But I have a choice — I can hoard all the vegetables I have, or I can share from my abundance. The gifts of God are always there, but first we must recognize he is the Giver of good gifts. Then we must choose to be, like him, a giver of good gifts too. We will experience and appreciate and receive all of the gifts God gives us all day long. We will be extremely blessed.

Lord, thank you for your good gifts! Open my eyes to see more and more of them. Help me to let go of my rights and possessions, and freely share and give good gifts to others. May I honor you, the Giver of Good Gifts, in this way!