GIVING GOOD GIFTS

 

March 12, 2025

This Week's Theme Verse

 Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways submit to Him 

and He will make your paths straight.”

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Matthew 7:7-12

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.



Have you ever been afraid to ask for something? I have. I remember being afraid to ask my Dad for a something when I was a kid. My something was a bike, not any bike it had to have a “banana seat” on it. Anyone remember those? I was afraid to ask my Dad for a bike because I was fearful his answer would be no. When I finally summoned the courage to ask him, he didn’t say no, but said we’ll see what we can do. One day when I came home from school there sitting in the backyard was a green bike, with an awesome “banana seat”. But before it was fully mine, I had to do certain chores as payment for the bike. Each week as I completed my tasks the amount owing was reduced. Now, my Dad could have just given it to me, but he wanted me to learn something that has been a benefit in my life. It was that in life very few things are just handed to us, but hard work yields its rewards.

Sometimes our reluctance to ask things of God or to make space for God conversations is that we are afraid of God's No, or that God's answer will not be quite what we want it to be. I feel that this may come from a wrong idea about who God is. Just like my fear of asking my Dad for a bike misunderstood my Dad's love and desire to give "good things" to me, his son.

Jesus teaches in this passage that God is like a loving parent. God wants us to talk and ask for what we want. This passage doesn’t say that we will magically get all that we ask for but instead highlights that God will always give us what is beneficial for us. Like a parent buying a bike for his child and teaching him that hard work pays off in life. God isn’t our "genie" granting our requests, God is our Heavenly Father, who seeks to give good things, (gifts) to those that ask him. Knowing this about God, we surrender our desires into his hands, trusting that God is always caring for us and providing for us, and wanting what is most beneficial for his children.

What would you like to ask God? 

Spend some time reflecting on questions or requests that you have for God.

Trust that God, as your loving heavenly parent, wants to hear your hopes, questions, and desires. Remember, God has what is best for his children in mind always.