LEAVING
GIFTS UNCLAIMED

Topics: Accepting Christ; Apathy; Assurance; Complacency; Eternal Life; Grace; Neglect; Righteousness

References: John 3:16; 14:6; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–9; Hebrews 2:3; 12:25; Revelation 22:17

One of five gift-card recipients never used their cards in 2005, representing about $972 million in unredeemed cards. According to Consumer Reports National Research Center, the top reasons for not using gift cards:

•     didn’t have time: 50 percent

•     didn’t find anything they wanted: 37 percent

•     lost the card: 14 percent

•     card expired: 12 percent

—Jae Yang and Adrienne Lewis, “Americans Neglect a Billion in Gift Cards,” USA Today (November 20, 2006)