By: Obed Pineda
Some time ago, I heard it said that not everyone has “the gift” of giving gifts. When I first heard this expression, my eyebrows furrowed in wonder as to why the expression was spoken? Admittedly, one reason for my puzzled look was out of worry and concern, since it was uttered after my gift was opened by the individual. Apart from the brief panic that perhaps the gift I had chosen was not ideal, it also peaked my curiosity and I began to ponder about the validity of those words. I started to think about those gifts that I treasure the most and still possessed after so many years. I was startled to learn that many of those presents were not valuable to me because of their monetary worth (for indeed many of them are not expensive at all) but because they exhibit daily the profound love those gift givers have for me; reminders of how much I am valued by them. All those gifts that still make me smile and feel appreciated today, were all chosen (or made) carefully, reflecting the time and interest that person made in getting to really know who I am or become informed as to what my needs were. The objects themselves are not what make the gifts special, rather they are representatives of the value I hold in the minds of all those who went the extra mile to chose the right present, and not just chose a present. This realization led me to better understand the significance of the popular idiom, “the gift that keeps on giving.” I realized that the type of present that always bring forth those warm sentiments of joy and love every time one sees them, is what is being referred to by this modern expression. Its ability to make the person smile and feel special over and over again, is how the gift continues to give. Ergo, I understood that what was meant by the person who directed my mind’s eye down this subconscious journey was the talent of giving meaningful gifts. It is undeniable that God’s gift to man is truly the gift that keeps on giving, for the inspired Paul rightly proclaims, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). When the Lord Jesus conversed with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in Sychar, He revealed her inability to recognize that He was “the gift of God” to all of mankind (cf. John 4:1-10). Let us recall that He was responding to her astonishment that a Jew would ask a Samaritan woman for a drink (cf. John 4:9). Once more, the bitter contention between Jew and Samaritan was still in existence during the Savior’s time on earth, despite several centuries having already gone by since it all began. It must also be noted that at that time, to share a drink of water with someone was viewed by ancient eastern civilization as a sign of approval through fellowship. Very similar to today, offering a stranger a drink of water was one way of being hospitable, welcoming him into the home as a guest. Therefore, denying someone a cup of water was synonymous with rejecting a person and it expressed to him that he was unwelcome. Prior to sending out His twelve on their limited commission, Jesus assured them that “whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). The concept conveyed by the Master with this illustration is that even a small, kind gesture as being offered something to drink by someone is an invitation that will bring forth a great reward because, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (Matthew 10:40). In other words, it is to be viewed as an opportunity to preach the kingdom of heaven, because they are not being utterly rejected by the one offering the cup of cold water. Their willingness to listen to the message those disciples needed to share with them is displayed by sharing a drink of water with the disciples. Therefore, the reward they receive in return is the Gospel news of salvation offered by Christ Jesus! This heavenly blessing is what the Redeemer was attempting to enlighten the Samaritan woman about as He explained, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10). Although the Lord was asking her for water because “being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well” He also used this request as a way of encouraging her to welcome Him in (John 4:6). He was guiding her to the understanding that “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). Thus, the Lord was teaching the Samaritan woman that He is the Anointed One from heaven and it was in her best interest to allow Him the opportunity to share His message with her. The Lord was demonstrating that the Messianic prophecies describing God’s salvation as living waters were not exclusive to the Jews, and for this reason it was inadvisable for her to reject Him solely for being a Jew. Her initial apprehension, the Master sought to quell by intriguing her curiosity even more, by claiming that He had something to offer her from God. She, like Nicodemus before her, failed to comprehend the Master’s spiritual lesson because she misunderstood the water He was offering to be literal, actual water (John 4:13-15). In spite of this minor, initial setback, the Lord continued to offer her the gift of God by leading her to the proper understanding of Holy Writ. His patience exhibited with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman proves that verily He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2nd Peter 3:9b). There is no question that God’s gift to man is His grace offered through His only begotten Son (cf. John 3:13-17, Ephesians 2:4-9). Yet, like mentioned earlier in this treatise, His gift offers so much more in addition to everlasting life, because it is the gift that keeps on giving. A prime example of this to be true is the long suffering displayed by Jesus in His conversations with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman (and many more), corroborating Peter’s inspired explanation why “the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness” (2nd Peter 3:9a). He lovingly and gently echoed the Spirit’s invitation “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters” to them both (Isaiah 55:1a). Curiously, the Lord had already begun to give His gift to the world when He decided to ask a Samaritan woman for water to drink. To be continued…