How should I receive gifts from others?

1 Corinthians 10:27If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.

We should accept whatever gifts we are offered graciously—especially when we are offered the gift of hospitality. Gifts may not always be to our tastes, or they may seem unnecessary, but receiving them thankfully is an affirmation of friendship.

Luke 17:12-13, 15-16As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” . . . One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

We should accept gifts with thanks and appreciation.

Luke 1:48“For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.”

We should accept gifts with humility and not feel entitled to receive particular ones.

Matthew 25:20“The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’”

Luke 19:26“‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.’”

Romans 12:7-8If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

1 Timothy 4:14Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.

2 Timothy 1:6Fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

1 Peter 4:10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

We should accept gifts with the desire to use them well to serve and bless others.