Giving is a part of who and what we are. Your father gave the seed and your mother gave you life. The rains fall and give life to the trees, plants, vegetables; the tree, plants, vegetables give bear fruit and give seed. We came into being by it and we are sustained in it. It is part of the human psyche.

God is the great giver. He gave the seed in the first place. “…seeing that He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. And “…in Him we live and move and have our being.” (See Acts 17:25-29). God is the primogenitor of us all. Not just the progenitor, mind you, but the primogenitor of us all.

We are constantly involved in giving. We give a day’s work, expecting a day’s pay. We give attention to our studies in order that we might train ourselves. We give ourselves to certain activities, hoping to achieve some satisfaction.

But most of the giving we do is out of necessity; it is done to satisfy a need or achieve a purpose of some sort. And while it is necessary to life, and we would do well to continue it with wisdom and intensity, the kind of giving we do ordinarily is not the highest kind.

The highest gift you can give is one with a motive, one where you seek satisfaction for another, one where you give of yourself so that someone else will have pleasure and enjoy some delight—particularly one that is unexpected. The highest gift ever given was not deserved, nor could it be earned; furthermore, nothing could be given in return for it. That is, nothing but the acceptance of it with gratitude and great joy. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). An oft quoted but seldom meditated upon passage.

We are never more like God than when we are giving. Giving without the expectation of any remuneration at all, that’s God’s kind of giving. Giving whether or not there is any understanding on the part of the recipient. Giving when it would be easier not to. Giving when he who receives the gift has done despite to you. Giving when there is a disregard for the gift. Don’t you see? God did all of these.

The greatest gifts you can ever give are not of much monetary market value; and if they are, you’re giving them for the wrong reason. Giving your time to a project that is worthwhile, one where God is glorified—that’s a good gift. Giving your energies to help someone who needs you. Giving money without recognition for having done so (true philanthropy). That’s a good gift. Giving a word of encouragement to someone who needs it. That’s a good gift. Even giving a politely stated, lovingly presented criticism may be one of the best gifts of all.

I don’t know who first said it, but the sentiment is from God: “It’s not love until you give it away.” ‘Tis so! ‘Tis so so!

Now, don’t you see to what we’ve been coming. The greatest gift you can give is yourself. It’s the essence of discipleship. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me,” said Jesus (Matt. 16:24). “I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1-2). It’s reasonable because it’s actually the only life that makes any sense at all.

Let us not forget the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. And let us give to Him our best.