GodSprings - 17, March, 2018

Should I Do Something For God Who Has Everything?

What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116.12-13

My wife (Saumya) celebrated her birthday yesterday. I called her up at five early in the morning to convey my wishes. To my surprise I could hear my daughter’s (Nanma) voice. Understanding it’s me, Nanma grabbed the phone from Saumya and started talking with me. I asked her how come she got up so early and she responded, ‘Today is mom’s birthday and I got up to give her a surprise gift that appacha ammachi had brought.” And then came the next question. “Appa what are you giving mummy as a gift”. I told her when I come back to Kerala I will give a gift. I then asked her why did she think that I should gift mummy on her birthday. She innocently said, “Mummy appa parayunna ellam cheiythu tharum. Appayku aharam undaki tharum. Appaye nallayitu nokkum. Njan kodutalo appol appayum kodukenam”(Mummy does everything for you. She prepares food for you. She takes care of you perfectly. I have given and so you also need to give).

The above verse came to my mind as I was recollecting what my daughter told me. According to my daughter since Saumya has been good to me its my moral responsibility that I give her a gift. But that made a question to prop up in my mind. There is yet another person who has been good to me and did only those things in life which would mould me and bring me to the perfection He desires. Yes, when God has been good to me all the time what have I given him?

But what can I give to God, who has created everything. Is there anything that I can buy for God, for he needs nothing. To find a perfect gift will surely be a hard task for every one of us.

The psalmist poses the question – What shall I render? It is a personal question. I have had my ups and downs in life. I have had times when I walked away from the path of the Lord. The story is too long so not writing it down over here. But Lord was gracious. But for that what am I rendering back?
Among those who are reading this you might have been in the clutches of an infirmity or disease and God has healed you. What have you rendered back? If you were in spiritual blindness and Jesus has opened your eyes what are you rendering back? If you had been in the grave of corruption and Christ has raised you back to life what have you give back?

This question should prick our conscience. With each passing day we are getting old and are nearing our end. What have you and I done for Christ up to this time?

Something that we could have given all through our lives was being obedient and thereby submitting to his sovereignty, making Him the first priority in our life. Most importantly as Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, to give our bodies as living sacrifices without conforming to the world but being transformed each day according to his desire.

Even though God needs nothing from us, we have plenty of gifts which God would like to receive from us. Still wondering what you have to give? Then start by giving yourself completely to Him. I think that might be the best gift we can give to God, who has everything.