King's News 32

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Socks, salts
& aftershave

What do you do with unwanted Christmas gifts? Ken Joynes has some thoughts...

A little basket of exotically-scented bath salts. Socks with a really, really 'funny' design on them. Pyjamas we wouldn't be seen dead in, let alone asleep in. Most of the presents we get at Christmas are great, but there's nearly always one that makes it more of an effort to say "Thank you"; one present that we don't want. What can you do with it?

Well, lots of things. If you're feeling generous, it could go to the local charity shop (or to Charlie and Theresa's table-top - click here for details!). Or, if you think you could make some money from it, there's the Tavi Times local bargains column. And if you have access to the internet, your options multiply with the various on-line auction sites (eBay's the major player, but there are smaller, local sites like Gumtree that offer free local advertising).

However, there's one problem that may be difficult to get round, and it's this: what if the person who gave the present to you found out you didn't want it? It's especially difficult if it was someone close to you. What would happen if they came across it in Oxfam, or saw it advertised in the paper, and realised you had got rid of their present to you?

Even just thinking about such a situation may make us squirm a bit, and I'm afraid this is where any advice runs out and it comes down to you and your conscience. But the situation reflects an interesting - and rather uncomfortable - truth about our position with God. God created a wonderful world, and He created us to live in it and take charge of it in a relationship of loving, abundant, joyful friendship and obedience to Him. Unfortunately, we said (in so many words), "Cheers God but we'd rather do what we want and please get lost". And that's what we've been doing ever since. You don't need to look too hard at the physical state of the world to see that putting ourselves in charge maybe wasn't the best move we made. On the spiritual level, our rejection of God's gifts was even more disastrous, bringing death, sin, pain and disease into God's creation and leaving us as spiritual orphans. And God's got every right to be offended and angered by our rejection of Him and our greedy exploitation of His gifts for own ends.

However, the good news is that God is a God of grace and mercy. Despite our selfishness and rebellion, He still loves us and wants us to live - abundantly, joyfully, freely - as his friends and helpers. But He can't ignore our arrogant desire to push Him off the throne and put ourselves in charge of our lives. And this is where there's some great news.

By dying on the cross, Jesus took the punishment we deserve for shoving God aside, and opened the way for our sins to be totally forgiven. When he came back from the dead three days later, Jesus showed he had overcome death and sin. He now offers us the gift of eternal life - not just for when we die, but also for living to bring God's kingdom here to earth now.

Living life God's way and not ours isn't always the easiest road to take. But it offers more purpose, challenge and excitement than our society's "I consume therefore I am" way of living. And in these times of ongoing financial insecurity, it provides genuine comfort and security in the knowledge that our lives are eternally safe with a Father God who loves and cares for us - not because of our goodness (far from it!), but because of His. Now isn't that a gift worth accepting and living for?

Ken
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