God's greatest gift is beyond words, and gratitude is the fitting response.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)
What does “Gift” mean in 2 Corinthians 9:15?
The Greek word translated unspeakable is anekdiegetos, which means indescribable. Paul cannot find words big enough for what God has given.
Going deeper
Paul closes a long appeal about generosity with a burst of thanksgiving. He has been asking the Corinthians to give to help others in need, and then he points to the gift behind all giving: what God has given us in Christ. Human generosity always begins as a response. We give because we have first received. Thanks is the right place to end.
The gifts we exchange at Christmas are a small echo of that great gift. In the days before Christmas, it is worth pausing to think about the difference between the gifts we open and the gift we are celebrating. The first kind fades or breaks. The second lasts forever. This week, let thanksgiving be your first response. Then let generosity follow it, whether that is time, money, a kind word, or a listening ear. Gratitude is the natural language of people who know they have been given more than they could ever repay.
Reflect
What does the gift of Christ mean to you, and how will you let gratitude turn into giving?
Pray
Thank You, God, for Your indescribable gift. Fill me with gratitude, and let it overflow in generosity toward others. In Jesus' name, amen.
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