For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)
We are all familiar with the concept of Gift but hardly understand it. We love the feel and thrill of it but hardly recognize the composition and constitute of it. We love it, expect it and use it but we must understand; Gift may be free but it was not for free. Gift has a cost and someone paid for it for the quite enjoyment of its recipient.
According to Webster, “Gift is something that is given to another person without expectation of a return”. Gift frees one from the burden or obligation attached to purchases without restriction or limitation to derive good and enjoyment inherent within a purchase. A gift affords its recipient the same offerings and benefits as a purchaser without depletion to resources “suffered” with the purchase. How good to enjoy a benefit without cost. That is the blessedness of a gift.
Every item of value carries a cost. It is the value associated with an item that defines its value. Until one gains the true value of an item, one cannot appreciate its cost nor be prepared to pay its price. It is this sense of value that differentiates the entitlement attached to a purchase from a recipient of a gift. Often, a recipient hardly shares the value perception of the giver because he (the recipient) did not pay for the item. The motivation of the giver is often driven by the implicit value of the gift, against its appreciation by the recipient which may be occasioned by the visual or casual sense of receiving the gift for free.
Until there is a joint or shared value of an item, the giver of a gift and its recipient may not parley at the Gift at the same point. The true appreciation of a gift is the common value shared by its giver and recipient. We must gain this truth.
Jesus at a Well, met a woman described as a Samaritan and said unto her; “If you knew [about] God’s gift [of eternal life], and who it is who says, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him [instead], and He would have given you living water (eternal life).” (John 4:10). In this context, there is a gift of God of which Jesus knew its content and value but the woman was not as aware or informed; though it is already there and available, the woman had no appreciation or inkling to know or use it. Jesus was confident that her interaction would be instant and different if only she knew.
It is Man’s unawareness of the content and value of God’s gift that has impaired Man’s appreciation and enjoyment of all of these gifts just because Man does not pay for them and therefore suffers no “hardship” for getting them except in the use of them.
Beloved,” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17 KJV) Everything God gives is perfect and necessary for Man’s need and enjoyment. God incurred the cost of the items because ordinarily Man would not know his need for them as he does not know their worth even now that they are freely given. We must love and learn to know the value God has for the gifts He gives to us in order to enjoy the value they carry. What do we know about the Grace of God for… it is the gift of God.