Gifts Work

“A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” – Proverbs 18:16 (NKJV)

I’ve heard many sermons refer to this verse and I’ve read many books and articles that build on this idea.

Identify your talents, skills, and spiritual capacities. Put them to work for the Lord. When you do, people will notice you doing the unusual, the amazing, even the miraculous. The power of God’s grace in your life will impress them, and you’ll get invitations to meet people of influence.

The Lord can do this. Consider the example of Joseph. Enslaved and incarcerated, he remained true to the Lord. Although Joseph suffered, his God-given ability to interpret dreams brought him before Pharaoh. He ended up becoming what we’d call the prime minister of Egypt. 

All because he used his special gift.

Joseph’s story can encourage us, but it can also dishearten us. After all, when’s the last time we interpreted the dream of the leaders of our country? We don’t seem to have such opportunities! And even if we did, could we deliver the goods? 

But don’t feel left out!

The teaching described above centers on a particular understanding of gifts. Most of the time, we interpret them as psychological or spiritual abilities. They’re intangible assets.

But that’s not what the word means.

The Hebrew word translated “gift” is matan and it means gift, offering, or present. It’s not a common term, occurring only five times in the Old Testament. Here are the other verses:

• “Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I’ll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the young woman as my wife.” – Genesis 34:12
• “This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.” – Numbers 18:11
• “Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.” – Proverbs 19:6
• “A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.” – Proverbs 21:14

Based on these verses, we can see that gifts are material or financial. The reference in Genesis is to a dowry, the prince a potential groom would pay to the father of the woman whom he wished to marry.

In Numbers, Moses is instructing Aaron and his family about the sacrifices they can consume. Serving as priests, they didn’t have territories like the other tribes of Israel did. They depended on the sacrifices of the people for their livelihood. God not only allows this situation; He commands it! The Lord wants the priests to enjoy their share of the blessings the Israelites would offer to Him.

Then we get to Proverbs.

But first a quick point. Many of the proverbs are observations, not recommendations. Biblical wisdom is about living well in this world. For complete success, we need to honor God in everything we do. But in a fallen world, misbehavior can get rewarded. It shouldn’t happen, but it does.

The two proverbs listed above make a simple comment: gift-giving works. If you want something from people, sometimes you have to soften them up. Give them a treat and you’ll get what you were looking for.

The gifts Solomon mentions are bribes. He comes right out and says it: bribery works! Again, this doesn’t mean he likes this state of affairs, but it’s how the world functions. As king, he must have had countless occasions when people tried to buy his favor.

Solomon doesn’t oppose being nice; he’s against corruption. Bribery is a close cousin of injustice. It’s not how the Lord does business. He doesn’t need a kickback, nor does He bribe anyone.

So in these four verses, gifts are physical objects. Now let’s return to Proverbs 18:16.

What is the gift in this verse? In light of the use of matan elsewhere, it’s not a skill or talent. It’s a tangible donation. Gifts from pure hearts express generosity. But gifts with ulterior motives are bribes and traps.

Proverbs 18:16 doesn’t promise open doors to the highest levels of power for talented souls. This doesn’t mean God can’t do this. He can bring us before anyone, anywhere, anytime! But we risk disappointment if we assume this proverb is a ticket to success.

Yet we can and should treat our psychological and spiritual abilities as gifts. As God honors financial generosity, so He will bless spiritual benevolence. It’s how we disciples of Jesus glorify the Father.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. – 1 Peter 4:10-11

And let’s not neglect financial gift-giving. Generosity has a powerful spiritual impact.

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! – 2 Corinthians 9:11-15

The book of Proverbs is all about wisdom. Let’s take the lesson from that book and live a life of generosity with all the blessings we’ve received. As we do, we glorify God and reveal the heart of Jesus for humanity.

Gifts work!