“The Lord said to Aaron, ‘With you bring your brothers… that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons are before the tent of the testimony. They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent… They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent… And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar… And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting… I give your priesthood as a gift.”
“‘All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you…”
“‘Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated.'” Numbers 18:1a,2-3a,4-5a,6-7a,19,29
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein” Psalm 24:1
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
All things are from God, created by and for Him. He owns everything. Therefore everything we enjoy is a given by Him, indelibly imprinted with His glory and purposes. In His mastery He appoints and arranges gifts of people, Spirit, and resource with divine design that we are equipped to carry out His call, by use or by donation. (Psalm 50:10; Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:7,11-13; Colossians 1:16)
As with any gift, what God assigns is His doing, not anything we earn or necessarily choose, and proceeds from His generosity and bounty. In His economy nothing is intended for waste, but only fruitfulness and eternal good. Spiritual gifts are given to build up His church, people to guard, undergird, and further His work, resources to provide for needs.
Have I gratefully accepted God’s good gifts to me, even those I would not choose, the talents and people He has conveyed? Can I see troubles, sorrows, challenges as sanctifying gifts from His loving hands rather than a curse, and not waste them? Do I squander the time and treasure He’s entrusted, or employ them according to His will? How would my view of life circumstances change if I received every aspect- health, position, responsibilities, opportunities- as gifts from my loving Master?
To whom am I a gift, perhaps even an answer to prayer, and how well am I fulfilling my purpose as a helpmate, support, teacher, friend? Am I committed to being all God intends me to be for others? His church? Where and how am I exercising my specific gifts to spread His light, sustain ministries, and upbuild others?
Lord, may I never cease to thank You for the gifts You bestow, including a great salvation and the abiding presence of Your Spirit. Help me utilize every one entrusted to me for the blessing of Your people and the praise of Your glory.
As the rain and snow 