“A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth” (Prov 17:8).
While sharing a birthday dinner with some new acquaintances, I mentioned how much I enjoyed the German music playing in the restaurant. The comment had no motive beyond a mere observation of how lovely the music was. I was therefore surprised when one of the people who had been at the table the night before walked up to me the next day and presented me with a wrapped gift. When I opened the gift it was a CD recording of German music. My heart was touched by this random act of kindness for those who shared collectively in the cost did not know me well.
Though relatively inexpensive the gift I received became like a precious stone in my eyes. As I considered the item, I remembered that behind ever gift is a giver and the giver is more important than the gift. I am deeply grateful to those who took the time to remember my remark and moved to find a way to please me by a random act of kindness.
There is another Giver who has remembered individuals and has moved to give them the most precious gift of all, eternal life. In the gospel of John, Jesus offered this gift to an outcast of society, a lady of questionable reputation. The story is recorded in John 4. At a critical moment in the conversation Jesus said to a woman of Samaria, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10).
The same is true today. Christ comes to individuals and offers them the gift of God which is eternal life (Romans 6:23). It is there for the asking. It is there for the receiving by faith alone in Christ alone. Those of us who have reached out in faith and received the gift of God can only say by way of response, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
In as far as we are the recipients of random acts of kindness, let us find ways to express kindness to others, even to strangers or those we barely know. Let us also not neglect to tell others of the gift of God so that many souls will be pressed into the kingdom of God. The presentation of the gospel is the greatest act of kindness we can give to others.
