If your dad came to you with a
gift just because he loves you
what would you do with that
gift? The manner in which you
accept and use the gift would
depend a lot upon your maturity
level. Let’s say your dad gave
you a car. There were many
reasons he gave it to you. Your
need would most likely be the
first reason. However, you must
know that as your dad gave you
that gift he also gained great
joy from the act of giving as he
watched you receive it with wide
open eyes and perhaps even a
joyful shout. But imagine you
took the car and went about the
business of driving it hard and
beating it. Let’s say you showed
no respect for your dad’s gift.
You even refuse to take care of
the car because of your lack of
caring and it breaks down due to
no maintenance. Can you imagine
how dad would feel? First there
might be hurt, soon to follow
frustration, and even anger at
your arrogance. Your dad may
react in any of a number of
ways. He might ignore your
actions trying to justify your
behavior in his own heart. Or he
might take the car away and give
it to someone he feels would use
it appreciatively. He may just
turn his back for the time and
hope you grow up to be more
responsible and caring. Can you
picture this scenario in your
mind?
Now let’s imagine the dad is now
God our Father in heaven. AS His
children each of us has been
given gifts and each of us is
accountable to receive and
steward over those gifts as
something precious and valuable.
Think about that for a second.
The Creator of the universe has
given us many gifts that WE are
accountable for. I have watched
in my own life examples of gifts
I have received from God. In
some cases I was the immature
receiver and God had become
upset with me. Sometimes I have
experienced my Father turning
his back as He waits on me to
“grow up” so I can better handle
what He has for me in the
future.
If we see an area in our lives
that we believe was a blessing
from God and things have came to
a stop. Could it be that God has
decided to wait for us to grow
up so He can start to bless us
in that area again? I believe it
is time to look around in our
individual worlds, determine
where God has blessed us, and
then treat that blessing as
something valuable and precious.
It is time to start watching and
listening to God our eternal
Father. Until later, Dave
