The Gifts and The Givers.

“Peace be with you.”

“Let’s pray: Father, may your will be done. Jesus, may your word be proclaimed. Spirit, may your work be accomplished in us we pray. Amen.”

I. Santa Clause

In celebration of Father’s Day, I want to share with you one of my late father’s favorite traditions—Santa Clause. You could say a lot about my dad, for good or bad, but what stands out the most is his ability to make Christmas feel magical through his make-believe in Santa Clause.

My Dad made Santa Clause a legend in our house. It wasn’t my parents (wink, wink) who gave the best gifts at Christmastime—it was Santa. Santa Clause was the leverage for better behavior all year long. Growing up, we were easily corrected by a simple notion called The List. The list—Santa’s naughty or nice list—was said to be checked twice before Santa delivered his goods on Christmas Eve. Every kid wanted to be on the right side of that list.

For most of the year, we didn’t give it much thought, but when the snow started to fall, you better start behaving. Because if there was ever a snitch, you could bet your parents—who had a direct line to Santa—would rat you out in a heartbeat. Most of the year they might forget, but once the holidays rolled around, you were walking on eggshells. If you didn’t do what you were told or you were misbehaving, but could guarantee they would call up old Saint Nick and put your name was on the naughty list. At least that is what they said.

Thankfully, I never made it on the naughty list—though I deserved it every year.

As an adult, I look back on the whole belief in Santa Clause as something fun and joyful for kids. I even think it’s a good exercise for children to understand faith—believing in something they haven’t seen. But here’s where it falls short: the idea of gift that comes with the legend of Santa Clause is not the same as the idea of gift that the Bible teaches.

II. Gift vs. Reward

The idea of “gift” that’s often taught through Santa Clause is really a reward. If you behave well and meet your parents’ expectations, you’re placed on the nice list and receive a gift. If you don’t behave, you’re put on the naughty list and risk getting nothing.

Historically, in both Roman and Jewish cultures during Jesus’ time, gifts were meant for those who deserved them. Giving a gift to someone undeserving was absurd—a waste. If a gift was ever given to someone unworthy, it was seen more like a donation—unimpressive and low-value. Think about your donations to the Salvation Army. You may call it a “gift,” but the items donated are often of no value to you anymore. In fact, some of you might even take Christmas gifts you didn’t want and “re-gift” them to someone else.

This was the same cultural view in Jesus’ day: good gifts were for the worthy. Anything given to the unworthy wasn’t considered a good gift—it was something disposable.

We still carry this idea of “gifting.” Our culture still gives the best gifts to those who have earned them. That kind of giving is a reward—not a gift.

In the Bible a gift is different that a reward. There are both gifts and rewards that God bestows. But when it comes to gifts the bible speaks of them differently than the world does.

So what makes a gift a gift?

People smarter than me have identified what sets a true gift apart from a reward. Here are the criteria:

Self-motivated (Solely out of the kindness of the givers nature),

Indiscriminate (Naughty or nice),

Abundant (isn’t a donation but is something of great value and worth),

Timely (Given when gift would be most enjoyed),

Without reciprocation (Isn’t expecting anything in return).

Effective (gift that keeps on giving).

This is the radical concept that Paul is teaching the Romans in your lectionary reading for today. What Paul writes in his letter to the Romans is that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit gifts are not rewards.

III. The Gift and The Givers

In the celebration of Trinity Sunday, we come to learn about the Gifts and the Givers. What gifts are given from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? This is what is revealed to us in our Lectionary Reading in Romans 5. The gifts of God to His people. To appreciate the level of these gifts I am going to seek to demonstrate them according to the criteria of a gift:

1. Motivation (He’s a gift giver).

Why does God give his best and most choice gift? Is it to earn their favor? Is He motivated by what we think about his gift? Or is it simply, because of who he is that he gifts the best?

Romans 5:8 NASB 95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s motivation to gift his Son comes from who He is not how we might receive it. It because God is love that he loves with gifts. It is because of who he is that he loves, not because of who or what we are. God is love and so he loves and so he is self-motivated in his gifting.

2. Indiscriminate (Undeserved).

God’s gift of his son was not based on merit, or works. It was not given to only those who deserve it but was given to all who don’t deserve it. God’s gift of himself is indiscriminate of your past, present, and future. He gifts because of his love, He gifts big, and gifts the underserving. So it is a true gift not a reward.

Romans 5:6–8 NASB 95

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Abundance (A gift worth having).

The gift of God is not some little donation of something that he doesn’t value, but if the gift of his very own precious Son.

John 3:16 NASB 95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

God doesn’t gift packs of sock or underwear for a gift, no he gifts the best thing he has, his very own Son. Because the Father and the Son are one, God gifts himself for us. So the gift to those who believe is a gift with absolute and total abundance. there is no better gift that could be given, God gifts his best—Himself in His Son.

4. Timely (More than the thought that counts).

God’s gifts are timely. They come a the right time.

Romans 5:6 NASB 95

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Really good gifts come at the right time. Gifts that come too late are not useful, and though you might think that it is the thought that counts, it would be better if it was more than the thought but also the timing was on point as well. God sent his son at precisely the right time to bring us the give of Salvation.

5. Free (No Strings attached).

God’s gifts are not conditional. He gives them freely. He doesn’t need anything in return which would make the gift null and void. But He gifts freely.

Romans 6:23 NASB 95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God doesn’t give you a gift with strings attached or to coherse you to a responds. He gives freely to all who trust in Jesus. Everyone is offered the gift of Jesus, and you are free to take him.

6. Effective (gifts that keep on giving).

Though God’s gifts are free, and there are no strings attached, they are also gifts that keep on giving.

Story about a Pastor who gifted me with a golden watch.

God’s gifts are effective. They are gifts that keep on giving in our lives.

Romans 5:1–2 NASB 95

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:5 NASB 95

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Jesus gives us his righteousness or “justifies us”. He makes peace between us and God, he grants us access to God’s grace which all who believe receive. He gives us joy of the Glory of God which no one could experience with Jesus cause no one can look at the glory of God and live. God gifts us his love which comes from having the Holy Spirit.

These are the gifts that keep on giving and work in our lives constantly. They are effective gifts that change us into better people, and the right kind of people who look and act like the gift givers. They gifts lead us to obsess over God who has loved us and given us these free gifts.

IV. Conclusion.

In celebration of Trinity Sunday, we learn more about the gifts and the givers of our lives! How loving, good, and giving they are towards us and this is cause for celebration and thanksgiving! But I close with this challenge:

Have you received these gifts?

Have you disregarded these gifts?

How do these gifts keep giving in your life?

Have you come to acknowledge the abundance of God’s gifts not only for the forgiveness of sins but also for your own Holiness?

If you want what God has given, then free take it! Cherish it and what how these gifts from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit effect your life towards Holiness!

Let’s Pray.