ListenDaily – 26 November 2010: Days of thanks, part 3

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ListenDaily – 26 November 2010: Days of thanks, part 3

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights..." "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God's. "
James 1:17 & Luke 20:25

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have you ever heard Tony Evans preach? Man! Not only does he really deliver, but what he delivers is good stuff. On my way to my wife's parent's house for turkey and all yesterday, we caught part of Dr. Evans on the radio. He talked about those situations, familiar to many parents, when your child asks you for some money -- in order to buy you a birthday or Christmas present. While my wife and I giggled, along with thousands of other listeners I am sure, he went on to make a good point, no, a great point.

It is the thought that counts, right? If our child has the right thought, the right heart, but not the means - then by giving them that money, we are providing them the means to bless us. We are enabling them to do what is right. When they take what is ours and return a gift, it is less the gift that we appreciate, than the act of giving. And we want them to give. Not because we are greedy and want our kids to give us stuff, but because cheerful, honest, loving giving draws us closer.

And so it is between our Father and us; we have nothing that we did not receive from Him.

He doesn't need the stuff we have; He wants us to give. It is our act of giving that draws us closer to Him.

May we be thankful to God for what He gives us, and be thankful for opportunities, not obligations, to give back. May we be thankful that we come closer to Him when we give that way.

Thanks Dr. Evans.


INTERESTING THOUGHT
"When you get stubborn on God, you start going backwards.
When you tell God "I am going to have my own way."
God says "Fine. You are on your way back to Egypt."

From Time to Get Serious: Daily Devotions to Keep You Close to God By Tony Evans