God's Gift

“He thinks he’s God’s gift to women!” There’s a phrase that I heard not a few times growing up (not about myself, mind you!). It referred to a fellow who (wrongly) saw himself as a real-life Casanova, believing that women should be falling all over themselves to get a date with him! Maybe you’ve met one or two of these guys yourself. Maybe you’ve used the telling description with which I’ve began.

But I want you to know that there is something really healthy about desiring to be “God’s gift”—though probably not for Mr. Pick-up line! Listen to what Huram, king of the neighboring land of Tyre, said about Solomon when he became king of Israel:

"Because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them." 2 Chronicles 2.11.

Translation: ‘You’re God’s gift to the people of Israel.’ Huram saw something in Solomon that was going to make a great king. Namely he saw Solomon’s wisdom, his desire for justice, and his desire to serve the Lord faithfully. So he said: ‘You’re God’s gift’—“because the LORD loves His people, He has made you king over them.”

I thought about that this past week. Wouldn’t it be great if that could be said about me—as a husband, father, pastor, and friend? Wouldn’t it be great if that could be said about you: “Because the LORD loves His people, he has made you” dad, mom, church member, Sunday School Teacher, deacon, usher, nursery volunteer, etc. on their behalf’?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to be “God’s Gift”—so long as we recognize that the one who receives the gift is far more important that the gift itself. A man loves his wife more than the diamond necklace he buys for her. God loved His people—so he gave them the gift of Solomon! A gift is merely a tool in the hand of another, but has no greatness of its own to boast in.

So it is healthy to consider yourself as “God’s Gift” if you believe that being so means you are simply a servant of other people; if you believe that those you serve are more important than you; if your happiness comes from simply being a gift—not from being recognized as a gift.

There is no questioning that the LORD loves His people. The question is: Are you the kind of wise, faithful, humble servant that He might be pleased to give to your family, friends, and church as His gift?