When to regift
“Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:8 NIV)
Regift: a gift received from someone, and then given as a gift to someone else.
Regifting to others
Everybody, at one time or another, receives a gift they don’t know what to do with. Maybe it was a toaster and you already have one. Or maybe it’s an article of clothing that doesn’t fit or it’s the wrong color or style for you. The item then goes onto a shelf in the closet for a year and wrapped up and given to someone else (hopefully, not to the same person who gave it to you). I heard a story about a family who have passed the same fruitcake back and fourth to each other for over 50 years, all in good humor, of course. I’m sure there are lots of great regifting stories that could be shared, I’ve heard a few. And, there could probably be a discussion about whether it is a good thing to regift or not. But, according to the Bible, followers of Christ are supposed to regift what they have received from God.
What to freely regift …
Regift the love you have received - “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 15:34-35 ESV)
Regift the forgiveness you have received – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)
Regift the faith you have received - “And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” (Phi. 1:6 ESV)
Regift the grace you have received – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 ESV)
Regift the hope you have received - “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)
Regift the strength you have received -“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (Rom. 15:1 ESV)
Regift the comfort you have received - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (1 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV)
Regift the joy you have received – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 ESV)
Regift the blessings you have received - “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5 ESV)
Therefore…
“For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,” (2 Cor. 9:12 ESV)