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The Perfect (Unre-gifted) Gift
By Courtney Ballestero
September 5, 2005

There is a somewhat alarming new trend in gift-giving. It’s called “re-gifting.” You’ve probably heard of it, but more than likely you’ve done it and possibly have unwittingly been a recipient of this practice. As an example, say you receive a waffle iron for your birthday (by the way, you loathe waffles) and, instead of returning it, you save it to give at the next wedding/shower/birthday/housewarming party.  It’s like recycling. You didn’t waste a gift, and it’s better than filling a landfill with a perfectly good waffle iron. Best of all (depending on who’s giving or who’s getting), it didn’t cost you a thing.

We as Americans understand the importance of commerce in a capitalist society. Even ancient cultures show record of types of currency and trade. Things that are free mean little in our way of life. Real respect is shown for things that have a price tag. You’ll treat it right if you paid the price.

Sadly, I’ve seen Christians “re-gift” many a time. Oh, not just at a wedding shower, but even in a praise and worship portion of service. You’ve seen it too:  unemotional, robotic responses in the midst of a holy encounter with God’s presence. It’s the same offering of worship they gave last week. It didn’t cost them anything.  They are recycling their praise.

True worship must cost us something if it has significance.  It comes from a deep place in our souls that has been set apart, removed from that which is visceral to that which is sacred.  We’ve sought Him. Like the thoughtful shopper who looks up the gift registry to find the gifts that are requested, even consulting the recipient on what he or she truly desired, we as the true worshippers must worship in Spirit and Truth. We peruse the truth of God’s Word to find the worship that is acceptable to Him. We allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in finding who God is. We consult Him and spend time with Him to make sure that our gift of worship is favorable.

As the New Testament states, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name”(Hebrews 13:15). True worship costs you something:

■  It will cost you your time. It doesn’t come in four choruses. It takes time to sing the songs with meaning; to say adoring words to air with faith believing that they are being received by God.

■  It costs you your pride when tears from your soul find release through your eyes and you liberate your hold on what is literal to embrace what is unexplainable.  You risk embarrassment when you move outside of your comfort zone and become lost in His presence.

■  You will sacrifice your comfort.  It takes effort and a bodily motion to lift tired limbs and dance when your body wants to stay at rest. But just like the good shopper who doesn’t leave until the perfect gift is procured, the earnest worshiper does not stop giving until true worship breaks forth.

I’ve seen the “re-gifter” at parties.  She lacks the sparkle you see in those who are eager to present their much-sought-after gifts. No doubt her wrapping is also recycled. She glances around to see if anyone recognizes it. She is just biding time until the last gift is offered and the cake is cut.  Secretly she wishes she could have the joy of the others, but she’s convinced herself that her used gift is good enough.

Our God is partial to new things.  Psalm 33, and also Psalms 40, 96 and 98, speak of singing “…a new song.” Psalm 40 even gives credit to God as the author of the song. New songs with refreshing lyrics excite our souls. But even a song we’ve sung a million times can have new relevance when enhanced with a worshipful spirit.

This trend, in the church or otherwise, presents a compelling dilemma. How long will the invitations keep coming before the host becomes weary of the hand-me-downs? God reserves the right to take offense at our gifts when He knows it holds no meaning to us and was easily given with little thought on our parts.

Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).  I want my worship to be one that He seeks, that He looks forward to every time I’m invited into His presence. Let it be an exquisite composite of my adoration for Him, one that He may call “the perfect gift.”

ninetyandnine.com

© 2005, Courtney Ballestero

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Courtney Ballestero spends most of her time writing songs in her moo-moo, checking out blogs on the net, and lighting endless candles trying to get the “adolescent” smell out of her house from youth sleepovers.