VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON
LOVING WITH GIFTS - PART ONE
LOVING WITH GIFTS - PART TWO
LOVIN WITH GIFTS - PART THREE
Love One Another With Giving and Receiving Gifts
by Pastor Mark Taylor
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue only, but in deed and in truth”
(1 John 3:18)
Some of the information today in quotations will come from Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages. The rest of it will come from scriptural principles I have learned from the Bible and other sources and sermons. In this message, I would like to take his ideas and expand on them. I am praying the Lord will teach us how to love each other, our children, our friends, our husbands and wives, and most of all the Lord Jesus Christ with giving and receiving gifts.
Giving is a part of the nature of God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son” (John 3:16). "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:26-27). These are gifts from above that we cannot see, but are necessary to live the Christian life. They are perfect gifts. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17). This is a “love language” from above, that of giving to us. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
“Almost everything ever written on the subject of love indicates that at the heart of love is the spirit of giving. A gift is usually something you can hold in your hand and say, “Look, someone was thinking of me.” The gift itself is a symbol of that thought whether it costs money or not. All five ways to love challenge us to give to our spouse, but for some, receiving gifts, visible symbols of love, speaks the loudest. Gifts are visual symbols of love Visual symbols of love are more important to some people than to others. Gifts come in all sizes, colors, and shapes. Some are expensive, and others are free. Gifts may be purchased, found, or made.”
“But not all gifts are visible. There is an intangible gift that sometimes speaks more loudly that a gift that can be held in one’s hand. The gift of self or the gift of presence. Physical presence in the time of crisis is the most powerful gift you can give if your spouse’s primary love language is receiving gifts. Your body becomes the symbol of your love.” Our Lord has left us with a promise: “ I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20), “For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). Anytime you need Him, He has given you the gift of His presence and His time through the Holy Spirit.
We may not feel we have much to give. But we have much more than we may realize. Someone needs your smile today. Someone needs your love today. Someone needs a hug and to feel your touch of love. There is healing in your hands and voice. God wants to use you to bring hope, healing, love and victory into the lives of others. You can help someone by being a friend and giving them encouragement. You can give someone a compliment or praise for something they did. You can visit someone in the hospital or a senior citizen in a nursing home. You can write somebody an encouraging letter. The list goes on. Ask the Lord how He can use you today to give of yourself to others.
“If your spouse’s primary love language is receiving gifts, you can become a proficient gift giver. In fact, it is one of the easiest love languages to learn. If receiving gifts is someone’s primary love language, almost anything you give will be received as an expression of love.” This is also true about your children, your friends, and especially our Lord and Savior. He has given us this promise: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38).
“Gifts need not be expensive, nor must they be given weekly. But for some individuals, their work has nothing to do with monetary value and everything to do with love.” Use your “gifts” to give to others. If you have the gift of music - give it. If you have the gift to work with your hands and create things - give it. If you have the gift to teach or encourage others - give it.
Give gifts to your friends, to your loved ones, to your husband or wife, to your children, and to strangers and you will be blessed. It may not be your “love language”, but to make others feel loved, gifts are important expression of love for them. God continues to give you gifts of health, happiness, safety, forgiveness, and many more. But the greatest gift He has given us is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)..
If you are not sure what to give someone, listen to them and make a mental note when they mention something they like. It could be somewhere they would like to go, something as simple as a card, or something they need done around the house. There are many ways to use the “love language” of giving if you will ask the Lord to help you.
Begin this week finding ways to give gifts to others. It is a simple way to show your love and follow the Lord’s command. "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12). Also remember to love one another with “words of encouragement” and “Quality Time”.
God has given you some valuable information on how to love each other, but He reminds us to use it. "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:17).
