Last Lessons #18 – GIFTS

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

How many times have you heard these words of Jesus? I have learned that they are true and nothing gives me more joy than to give. But I have also learned that I must give wisely, especially at Christmas time. Here are some things I will be giving this year with a couple of suggestions for you

1. Give what is true

Every year for Christmas (and birthdays) I give a Bible commentary to my family, co-workers at Rafiki and some friends. I give and recommend the REFORMED EXPOSITORY COMMENTARIES published by P&R Publishers (www.prpbooks.com). Since I have been giving these commentaries for a number of years, my family and friends now have a valuable library of the best Bible commentaries.

I give the RAFIKI BIBLE STUDY. The RBS consists of printed lessons on every book in the Bible and written by a number of noted theologians. It is for small groups of five or more and can be obtained through Rafiki’s website (www.rafikifoundation.org). There is no better gift than getting people to study the Bible. It’s where the truth is found.

2. Give what is good

I still have some money and I plan to give it all away before I die, but the best gift I have is my time. That’s why I still volunteer at Rafiki with my walker(!) and a few others from my assisted living facility each week.

Your time is the good gift you can give. If you are too busy to give time to volunteer somewhere doing something, then you are too busy. Have you thought of volunteering at a soup kitchen, or a school, or a library, or a pro-life pregnancy center?

Years ago, our family took in a number of foster children. Two of them became Christians and later led their own families to Christ. If you want to really help needy children you might check into an organization called Guardian ad Litem for children (guardianadlitem.org). This will take some time, but it is a wonderful thing to give children who have no one to stand with them in legal matters.

It may be hard to get out these days, but if you can hunt for gifts at stores, you can hunt for places to volunteer where you can do good for others.

3. Give what is beautiful

In the senior facility where I live, I have a small garden in which my daughter Kathy has planted camelias, gardenias, and other flowering plants so I can enjoy their beauty. I was also given a bird-feeder where from my windows I can see beautiful cardinals and other birds. Beauty can be found in many places, but I particularly like God’s creation of flowers and birds. Therefore besides outside, my apartment is adorned with paintings of flowers and birds. My professional artist daughter has painted them for me and gifted me with their beauty. If you want to give something beautiful you can order beautiful paintings from her website (katherinecookart.com).

I don’t usually recommend specific organizations or websites in my blogs, but this year doing so is the best “lesson” I can give you in time for Christmas.