One day, while watching a child play with a toy in our neighborhood, the Holy Spirit asked me an unexpected question: “What did the child do to “earn” that toy?”
Of course, the answer is Nothing!
The only responsibility of the child is to accept the gift and delight in it. The parent doesn't set up a payment plan or deadline for the child to reimburse them for the toy. Neither does the parent provide the child with a detailed job description specifying duties, work hours, or a benefits package that includes the toy as part of the child’s compensation for any labor.
The Importance in the Spiritual Realm
So, what is the difference between a gift and a salary?
A salary is provided as a result of labor and is earned as financial recompense for the time and effort provided. It is an amount that is given by an employer for services rendered by the employee.
A gift, on the other hand, is something voluntarily transferred from one person to another without compensation or expectation of payment. According to Merriam-Webster, it is a present, a donation, or an offering intended to show affection and support.
Because there is no compensation, it is free. It cannot be earned. If the receiver does anything to “earn” the gift, it’s no longer a gift. It is a salary. For it to be a gift, it has to be given without expectation of anything in return. For it to be a gift, it has to be received without trying to earn it.
So, what do you do to earn God's love? Nothing!
“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
The Source of good gifts is our Father. It is gifts that our Heavenly Father gives to us… free, unearned, with no expectation of being paid back.
Our Father gives us forgiveness, salvation, victory over sin, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and abundant life—and we have done nothing to “earn” this.
Call to Action: Do Our Part
So, what is our part? “Become as a little children” (Matthew 18:3).
Just as children around the world depend on their parents and simply receive and enjoy the “gifts” of affection, food, a home, transportation, education, and structure, we need to live daily in dependence on God and accept the gifts He’s given us—His children.
God gives gifts not in response to anything we have done but because He is our Father and loves us more than we can imagine.
Will you accept God's gifts and delight in His love? As we do, this will draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.
For a wonderful deep-dive into the amazing gifts of our Heavenly Father, check out Victory in Jesus by Bill Liversidge.
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
