Expensive Gift

[snopes]

The birthday of my son was close and I had spent days wondering what I would buy for him as a birthday gift.

I decided to check out a department store and browsed through the toy section. I could not really make up my mind on what to buy. Just as I was about to give up, I saw a toy motorcycle and I knew I had hit the jackpot! My son loved motorcycles and would appreciate this toy as a birthday gift!

On the day of his birthday, I presented the gift to my son and boy, did he love it! Nothing interested him any more but his 'Okada' (name given to motorcyclists in Nigeria). That same day however, the motorcycle and its plastic rider met their untimely end. I was upset, could not imagine why Praise just would not handle the toy with care. I told him I wasn't going to get him another gift but of course that was just to make him feel sorry. But like the typical 2–year-old he was then, the motorcycle toy was soon forgotten and he shifted attention to the other toys in his possession.

How many times have you heard that salvation is free? The Bible says that the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Rom 6:23) A gift is free to the receiver but to the giver, it costs something. Just like it cost me money to buy the birthday gift for my son, so also it cost God his only begotten son to give us salvation freely.

Let us remember that the saviour of the world came as a very expensive cost to God. Jesus Himself had to give up everything – His glory and divinity so that you and I could have this salvation freely.

The danger in receiving a gift, something you didn't pay for, is that there is the tendency to trivialize it. Just like my son didn't think much of the toy motorbike after the damage had been done, so also many Christians trivialize the salvation we received. The reason is because we do not appreciate the enormous cost Christ had to pay to redeem us from the curse of the law.

Jesus paid for our salvation with His own life - that is something we dare not trivialize. Let us share the great news of God's wonderful gift to all mankind. The greatest gift of all!

[Chloe]

So if you don't play nicely with your salvation, you might break it?

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

I was upset, could not imagine why Praise just would not handle the toy with care.

This seems to indicate that the child's name is Praise. Say it ain't so.

[Amigone201]

Oh well, at least it's short.

[inkrose115]

Originally Posted by Amigone201

Oh well, at least it's short.

Yup. Probably the sender overcompensated by including 1 GB of cheesey images, and Snopes was nice enough not to torment us with them. Or something. Short, but still too sweet.

[TB Tabby]

Finally, some good old-fashioned glurge! We were getting in a rut with all that MyGlurge.

[Cactus Wren]

Originally Posted by snopes

On the day of his birthday, I presented the gift to my son and boy, did he love it! Nothing interested him any more but his 'Okada' (name given to motorcyclists in Nigeria).

Nigerian spam?

[Twankydillo]

Ahh, that must be where I went wrong!

Instead of playing with my Godlike Mega-Jesus Motobike (With Real Moving Wheels - Miracles Not Included) I played with my Stuffed Cuddly Doggie of Questioning Atheism ("Now with Cunning Arguments!"). I should have known not to play with other toys. Damn me, but there were so many! How could a young mind pick just the one?

But in my defence, a fiddly bit on the motorbike broke and the halo fell off. The Stuffed Doggie of Atheism always seemed more sturdy, and I could cuddle it in bed.

Besides, what if it wasn't your almighty parent who gave you this gift, but a questionable smelly old Aunt? Or if you were told it was Father Christmas? How far exactly does this metaphor stretch?

[TrishDaDish]

I was upset, could not imagine why Praise just would not handle the toy with care. {snip} But like the typical 2–year-old he was then, the motorcycle toy was soon forgotten and he shifted attention to the other toys in his possession.

Yes, typical 2 year olds always handle toys with care. I have no idea why toy makers use age appropriate labels and make sure there are no small parts on toys - kids that age always treat their toys gingerly!

Trish "When not clocking their little sister with it" DaDish

[Brad from Georgia]

Ohhhh no! I have taken Jesus from his shrink-wrap! He's no longer mint!"

Brad "Worst glurge....ever!" from Georgia

[Esprise Me]

I told him I wasn't going to get him another gift but of course that was just to make him feel sorry.

Is this part of the metaphor, too?

You can tell a lot about people by the ideals their deities embody.

Originally Posted by Cactus Wren

Nigerian spam?

"Son I wish to present you opportunity of new toy relationship."

The birthday of my son was close and I had spent days wondering what I would buy for him as a birthday gift.

Hint. The mother of your child usually has a good idea what they want, did you ask her?

I decided to check out a department store and browsed through the toy section.

Genius!

I was upset, could not imagine why Praise just would not handle the toy with care.

You called your son Praise? Come one own up you don't have a son do you.

I told him I wasn't going to get him another gift but of course that was just to make him feel sorry. But like the typical 2–year-old he was then, the motorcycle toy was soon forgotten and he shifted attention to the other toys in his possession.

Now I just know you don't have a clue about children.

How many times have you heard that salvation is free?

Um...none, because there has always been conditions attached from the very beginning.

The Bible says that the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Rom 6:23) A gift is free to the receiver but to the giver, it costs something.

Bingo!

Just like it cost me money to buy the birthday gift for my son,

Absolutely! I always look carefully at the price of a toy when I buy one for my Son's Birthday because I demand the full $39.95 of praise and attention that my children should give me for buying them a toy. It has nothing to do with the fact that people buy toys for their children to give them joy in the world.

-sarcasm overdose-