What Does the Bible Say about Giving Gifts?
Share
Gifts. We all love receiving them, and most of us rejoice to give gifts to others. At the heart of any season of giving is usually the desire to please someone with a gift. What does the Bible say about giving gifts?
For this article, we will focus on physical gifts given and received by people, and not on the spiritual gifts or the promised and providential gifts from the Lord.
When and Why Did Giving Gifts Begin?
The tradition of bestowing gifts is said to have begun by the ancient Romans. Of course, their practice centered on their gods, with the central pagan festival being Saturnalia, a mid-December, week-long thanksgiving tribute to their agricultural god, Saturn. The festivities included sacrifice, unrestrained carousing, and gift giving.
The ancient Greeks and Egyptians gave birthday and other celebratory gifts to honor those of great social standing and also to ward off evil spirits. This practice gradually grew through the centuries into what we do when honoring different people for their roles (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc.), and for special life events like marriages (setting up the couple’s house), anniversaries, etc.
And so, gift giving is an ongoing practice in our daily lives.
Does the Bible Mention a Purpose for Giving Gifts?
In the Bible, a gift was regarded as favor toward someone or the bestowing of an item to someone. Gifts were given to mark numerous circumstances for varied purposes. They were presented as a dowry for a wife (Genesis 34:12), as honor to a military victor (2 Samuel 8:2), as payoffs (Proverbs 17:8; Isaiah 1:23), as rewards to ensure forthcoming allegiance (Daniel 2:48), and as help for the lowly (Esther 9:22).
In some instances, gifts were a customary expectation or even required by law. The Bible uses words such as “willing” or “freewill offerings/gifts” to denote gifts not extracted by force of culture, law or greed (Exodus 35:29; Romans 5:15-17; 2 Corinthians 9:5).
For our part, the Bible most often speaks of gifts as offerings to the Lord (Numbers 18:11; Malachi 1:9; Matthew 5:24; 23:18). But a good thing to consider is God is the ultimate Giver of gifts. How else would we even be able to bestow gifts to others without God providing abundantly for us? He brings rain for the harvest (Jeremiah 5:24) which then provides resources with which to serve God and others. Part of that service can include the giving of gifts to encourage, edify, and show our love for others.
God also gifts people with talents (Exodus 38:22-23). As He gave skill to Bezalel and Oholiab, so too He gives people various talents. Some people are gifted musicians, artists, writers, designers, etc. As we seek to love the Lord by using the skills He has given us, we can love others with the same skills. A song written just for someone or a piece of artwork created to beautify their home are both examples of a person using their God-given talents to lavish love and attention on another.
The Bible presents gift giving between men and women as a way to bring honor to God, serve people, and reflect God’s love to them through us. Humble and proper gift giving is modeled in the following passages:
Just as we tithe for the Lord’s work with a cheerful heart, so too gift giving can be part of our good works toward others. Whether it’s charity or compassion, it all stems from our love of Christ and then others. We share our bounty, not grudgingly, but with a cheerful heart.
God blesses generous people but withholds blessings from the greedy.
All we have has been given to us by the Lord God, who “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” When we gift others, it’s part of doing good, being rich in good works, and being generous and ready to share. By giving to others with a pure heart for God, we store up our treasures in heaven, to be enjoyed in eternity.
Giving gifts to show hospitality is modeled by Abraham in Genesis 18:1-8. Here we read the account of when the Lord and two angels appeared to him as he sat at his tent door in the heat of the day. Abraham bowed to them and gave them water and the shade of the tree for refreshment. He had Sarah, his wife, make cakes for them and gave them a feast with a choice calf, curds, and milk.
In Genesis 32:9-23, we read how Jacob sent gifts ahead to his estranged brother Esau when he ventured back into his homeland. His gifts were a plausible, heartfelt, and upright way to assuage possible animosity and gain favor with Esau. Jacob prayed before he sent the gifts, an important habit to emulate.
When Abigail sought to ease David’s wrath because of her harsh and evil husband’s actions toward David, she sent a large quantity of food gifts. Abigail followed and begged David’s forgiveness for her oversight in the matter (1 Samuel 25:18-38). Her humility, kindness and wisdom did not go unnoticed by David and later, David took her as a wife (after her husband died).
In quite a tangible way, giving of ourselves by giving gifts in Christ’s love to others is an offering to the Lord.
The Bible also teaches that receiving a gift with gratitude is a sign of a healthy, humble spirit. The Apostle Paul exemplified our giving and receiving nature when he quoted the Lord Jesus in Acts 20:25, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Giving of ourselves is pouring our lives out for the Lord. We just need to remember the Lord is our Provider and Sustainer. He gets the glory for all we are able to do for and give to others.
Luke 6:35-36 says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Once again, we see how we can reflect Christ through our giving to others. When we do good, we are being Christlike. When we give gifts and expect nothing in return, it’s like lending mercy (in effect, giving mercy).
Should Christians Worry about Giving (or Not Giving) Gifts?
The most important gifts are always given by God our Father for our good and ultimately for His glory. We can all agree and rejoice that Christ Jesus is our greatest gift (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Because we love Him and want to bring Him glory, we may also wish to give gifts in His name and as a reflection of who we are in Him.
The decision to give or not give gifts lies with the giver, and there is no shame when we decide to not give gifts. Various factors influence the decision, including budget restraints and having no clue what to buy.
It’s okay to give or not give. The most important part is the motive for giving. If it’s under compulsion and there’s no joy in giving, it reduces the effect and happiness of both the giver and recipient.
No-cost gifts are often the most cherished because the cost comes through time spent on the gift. Many people keep handmade cards/gifts for the rest of their lives. Another great “free gift” is a hug with a heartfelt personal greeting.
At Christmastime, especially, we can ponder the account of the Magi who brought gifts to the Christ child (who was likely two years old when they came bearing their gifts). Early Christians “stole away” the pagan celebration of Saturnalia. They replaced it with the exchange of gifts to honor the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). Who better to celebrate than the One who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)?
When we think of Him first, any gifts we choose to give can be viewed as a way to honor the Lord with the resources He’s given.
10 Tips for Gift Giving
1. When deciding whether or not to give a gift, pray (it’s always our first priority). Ask the Lord for wisdom about giving a gift and about what gift to give.
2. Buy gifts according to your budget and stick to it.
3. Don’t be taken by trying to keep up with what others are giving as gifts (or what ads tell you is necessary to give). After you pray and budget, purchase what you comfortable buying and embrace the joy of sharing.
4. If you have a hobby or talent that lends itself to gifts, and if you have the time and inclination, do make as many gifts as you desire. Homemade gifts are treasured!
5. Listen to the people to whom you want to give gifts. When your beloveds share things they “love” or wish they had, it’s a clue. If you’re stuck, ask for help from someone else who is close to the one who’s getting the gift.
6. If gift giving isn’t in your budget and you don’t have a skill for homemade items, you can always write a card good for various tasks or outings (washing their car, a trip to the nature center together, a DVD movie night with popcorn and treats, etc.). Time is precious, and we all love extra time with those we love.
7. Gift cards are still appreciated. Buying one related to your recipient’s favorite things is a bonus.
8. When you gift someone, try to incorporate Scripture into your card or gift tag. It’s a precious show of your heart for the Lord and for the person you are gifting.
9. If you’re prone to impulse purchases, enlist your accountability partner (AP) for help with prayer and best ideas. (If the gift is for your AP, ask another friend for help).
10. Enjoy the whole process of prayer, decision making, and gifting. The joy you share is the best part of any gift.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Paperkites
