Are You a Regifter?

One of my all-time favorite sitcoms, Seinfeld, coined a phrase that is still popular today: “regifting.” To regift means to take a gift you were given and turn around and give it to someone else (either with or without the original wrapping!). It is considered a disgraceful practice, and if caught, the regifter is often put to shame. Although you would never want to find that someone you love has regifted you, why do we find it acceptable to regift God?

Since the beginning of time, man has made gifts of sacrifice to God. We find that in Genesis 4:3–5, Cain and Abel brought the gifts of their labor before God as a sacrifice. While Abel brought the fat portions from the first born of this flock, the Bible says that Cain laid out “some of the fruits of the soil.” Or basically, he regifted his leftover harvest. God looked upon Abel’s offering with favor, not Cain’s.

One might argue that we have no need to make such sacrifices today. After all, Jesus, the Son of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The perfect Lamb without spot or blemish, presented before God to redeem all of mankind. While this is true, let us not believe that we can now wash our hands and be done with the whole gift-giving business.

It is actually because of Jesus’ sacrifice that we can enjoy a closer relationship with God and give Him our gifts willingly and freely. For example, I am always inspired by first-time authors who choose to use their gift of writing to glorify God, rather than please the world. God gave us His best, we should strive to give Him ours.

God doesn’t want our leftovers, He demands our best. I’m not a regifter—I’m giving Him my first fruits!