What Present Should I Give?
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 18 Nov 2007 in From Steve's Study ::
I read a story recently about a man who thought he had conquered the problem of trying to remember his wife’s birthday and their anniversary. He opened an account with a florist, provided him with the dates and instructions to send flowers along with an appropriate note signed, “Your loving husband.” His wife was thrilled by this new display of attention and all went well until one day when he came home, kissed his wife and said offhandedly, “Nice flowers, honey. Where’d you get them?”
What to get your wife or husband as a birthday or anniversary present is always a dilemma. Do you spend a lot or a little? Do you buy clothes, if so, what size and colour? Do you give something useful, or something just for fun? And what is it that a husband or wife really wants? Surely it is spouse who acts with love and care all year, not just on one or two days.
Marriage is a lifelong, 24/7, faithful & sacrificial commitment to the good of your partner. It is the willingness to give of yourself, no matter what the cost. (Anyone getting married soon should take note!)
I suppose that is why the bible often uses the metaphor of marriage to describe God’s relationship with his people. He is totally committed to our good. He has held nothing back – not even his own Son – so that we could be in a relationship with him! He is like the ultimate marriage partner, richly pouring out his blessings on us each day.
And what does he call on us to do? To commit ourselves to a lifelong, 24/7, faithful & sacrificial commitment to serving him. As we’ve already seen in the book of Malachi, God is not interested in us bringing him the “leftovers” of our lives (any more than your spouse would be happy with a half-eaten sausage roll as a birthday cake!), he wants us to bring him our very best. He wants us to remain faithful to him and not go following after the gods of this world. He calls us to “guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth”. (Mal 2:15)
Marriage is like twirling a baton, turning handsprings or eating with chopsticks. It looks easy until you try it
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