I was thinking how happy it made me to take my son shopping—we got some great clothes for his trip to Europe. It made me happy to about sending him to Europe to study, about blessing him with nice things that he loves.
And I heard this: “If it pleases you to bless him, don’t you think it pleases Me to bless you? If it makes you happy to shower him with good things, don’t you think it makes Me happy to shower you with good things?”
Now, I have a great relationship with both of my sons. We’ve had our ups and downs, like any parent-child relationship. But I know this: nothing either one of them could do would separate them from my love…and that is exactly what God has said about us [Romans 8:39].
Not Santa Claus...
Unlike Santa Claus, I bless them whether they’re bad or good. I bless them because I love them and it pleases me to do so. They are the recipients of my favor and blessing because of who they are—they are my sons—not because of what they do. I love them.
Two of my favorite memories were when we surprised our boys with their first cars. My heart was so full of joy that I could hardly contain it.
My first son wanted an SUV with all the trappings. We surprised him on Christmas day with a beautiful, second-hand Ford Explorer--he spent the next couple of months adding rims, flowmasters, a premium sound system and a brush guard.
My second wanted a sedan—a flashy sedan. We bought him a used, bright red Mercedes C230. People at his Christian school made comments for years about that car.
The SUV was ok, the Mercedes over the top. Why? A couple of friends told me that their kids were going to work for their first cars, that they would never just give them something like that—they had to earn everything they got.
My response was that I didn’t want my kids driving something they could afford. It made me happy to lavish them with their heart’s desires.
And if I could’ve given them brand new cars, I would’ve done that! They didn’t have to earn it, I GAVE it to them…I LOVED them! And they were teenagers at the time, so you know they weren’t perfect! But it had nothing to do with what they did and everything to do with who they were and who we, their parents were.
Now, I guess if we had thought the gift would kill them—if we had thought they would drink and drive—I guess we would’ve withheld the cars. But it would’ve made us sad to do so—it would’ve grieved us not to be able to bless them.
In fact, it has always grieved us when, for whatever reason, we weren’t able to bless them.
It's Your Father's Will
Jesus said “if you, being evil, know how to…how much more your Father…[Matthew 7:11]
Hebrews 11: 6 ‘And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.’
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.” [Luke 12:32]
It is the very nature of love to give. ‘For God so LOVED the world He GAVE His only begotten Son…’ [John 3:16]. He gave to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham/Isaac/Jacob…He gave to David and Solomon, all the way down to Jesus!
And He has given us ‘…all things, richly to enjoy.’ [! Corinthians 3:21,22]
Never doubt His willingness to give us all things. It gives Him great pleasure.
