Page 40 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 1 2025

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

GOOD RECEIVING

B Y PETER S T OFFBERG

erhaps you’ve seen this kind of thing go down,
or been part of it. It happens in restaurants
all over the world. Everything is fine until the
Pbill arrives. “I’ll get this one.” “No, please let
me get it!” What follows would be really funny, if it
wasn’t so awkward. A long drawn-out conflict filled with
negotiations and compromises eventually ends with
someone having the satisfaction of winning the honour
of paying. An honour that, curiously, nobody really
wanted in the first place.
If you’re a student, this may seem strange to you. Why
would anyone do this? If someone offers to pay for
supper, it’s time to celebrate (and perhaps even regret
not ordering something more expensive). But as we
grow older and more established, many of us feel the
need to outdo others in gestures like these. We are
uncomfortable receiving generosity.
Have you been embarrassed by an expressly generous
birthday gift or other token of appreciation? The first
thought is often how we can reciprocate, and repay the
kindness rather than just be grateful for it. There’s also
the opposite extreme. That of taking gifts for granted, not
appreciating the gesture and hardly giving it a thought.
What’s behind this difficulty to receive graciously?
ON SITE SUNDAY SERVICES @ 9h30
Perhaps, we’re embarrassed that someone would think
we’re needy or incapable, or maybe we prefer being a www.familychurch.online
good giver, and don’t want to give up that reputation. It DAINFERN COLLEGE AUDITORIUM
can become a contest and a matter of pride.

If our discomfort in receiving is a matter of pride, then given us the gift of His Son so that whoever believes in
our ability to receive would be a matter of humility. Him will be granted complete forgiveness and an eternal
Gratefully receiving without feeling like we have to and perfect relationship with Him. Isn’t there some way
somehow prove our worth, one way or another, isn’t we have to earn it, to prove we’re worthy?
always easy.
Forgiveness and restoration with God is a gift. It’s not
Perhaps it’s why it can be so difficult to receive the earned, but it must be received. In 1833, George Wilson
Gospel of Jesus Christ. God says He loves us, and has was convicted of numerous crimes and sentenced
to death. Influential friends managed to secure him
a full presidential pardon. The gift of freedom. The
problem is, he refused it. That refusal, as a court of
law later established, completely nullified the pardon
and rendered it worthless. George Wilson remained
condemned.

God offers us complete forgiveness, and freedom
through Jesus Christ. We don’t earn it, nor can we. It’s
a gift. The greatest and most extravagant gift ever. But
what good is it, if it’s not humbly and gratefully received?

38 DPL issue 1 2025