Gifts discovered and shared

 

Under the surface, the Scriptures I read today had a lot to say about the gifts or blessings that can potentially come from within.  The Old Testament passage focused largely on material gifts and wealth, and the gospel dealt with negative attitudes and actions that can come from within.  But underneath it all, there are gifts to be discovered and shared.

While the former spent more time talking about the gifts that the queen of Sheba brought to Solomon and his wealth as indicated by the food he served and the palace in which he lived, there’s an underlying source for the recognition and material “blessings” – wisdom.  I don’t want to give the indication that I think we believe in the 21st century that those with great riches are automatically good people who have been shown favor by God, any more than we still believe that sickness or disease are God’s way of punishing those who sin.

What I am suggesting, though, is despite the fact that her outward gestures included lavish gift-giving, the queen of Sheba recognized something deeper within Solomon.  This wasn’t merely political or economic commerce, but rather gifts flowing from recognition and admiration for the inner gift of wisdom which Solomon possessed and shared [1 Kings 10:1-10].

The gospel, on the other hand, is a cautionary tale against allowing things that defile to come from within – the opposite of gifts and blessings.  The gospel lists evil thoughts, theft, murder, greed, and deceit, among others.  It doesn’t say that these have to come out of us, however; it says that they can come out of us [Mark 7:14-23].  I think this is the key because it indicates that latent within us are also the blessings of compassion, respect, generosity, and honesty, among many others.

Whether blessings and gifts (or conversely, harm and defilement) come from within us is a choice and a challenge that we must address ourselves, in our own lives.  It’s about our own self-awareness.  What’s most important is for people to pay attention to the ways that they’re living in the world and ask if they’re living in a healthy or unhealthy way.

I find both challenge and excitement in knowing that what I share from inside with the world outside is my own responsibility.  I think if we seek to share gifts and blessings with the world, even if we aren’t showered with great wealth and prestige, we will certainly be recognized as children of God, sharing out of our gratitude the inner gifts God has given us.