What the Wise Men Offered
In the midst of the holiday rush and end-of-year activity, we can lose sight of gift-giving’s deeper meaning. Yet, an ancient-but-familiar story offers us timeless wisdom. The wise men’s journey to Bethlehem – bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus – was a profound act of reverence and generosity.
It provides great insight into how we can offer our most valuable gifts as an expression of love and devotion. After Jesus was born, wise men from the east arrived in Bethlehem, presenting the infant Jesus with precious gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These weren’t random choices, but carefully selected treasures that held deep significance. Today, we can find in these ancient gifts inspiration for our own generosity.
Gold, a symbol of wealth and royalty, acknowledged Jesus as King. For those of us who’ve been entrusted with much, this is a reminder to honor God with our wealth first, before anything else (Proverbs 3:9). This could mean identifying some of the things we own that could be used for giving or dedicating our time to spreading the gospel near home or far away.
Frankincense was used in temple worship, and the gift of it acknowledged Jesus’ divinity. Our worship and prayers are like incense (Psalm 141:2), and we offer our “frankincense” when we approach our giving as an act of worship. This could involve opening our home for a night of worship, hosting a Bible study for neighbours, or taking moments to worship throughout the day.
Myrrh, often used in burial practices, foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrificial death. In response to Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are compelled to live a life of generosity and sacrifice (1 John 3:16). During the Christmas season, we can offer our “myrrh” by embracing the full story of Jesus, including that he is our Messiah and recognizing the cost of our salvation.
The legacy the wise men left was of giving, of recognizing Jesus as the King who is worthy of our worship. But it also reminds us a price was paid for our sins. The long-hoped-for Messiah died for our salvation.
We remember the wise men for their gifts, and we long to be remembered for ours. But it was his gift that made all of ours possible. This Christmas season and throughout the coming year, may we, like the wise men, seek Jesus and offer him our very best.
Questions for reflection:
- Gold represents our wealth: money, skills, time, etc. What’s one gift or talent you have that you are going to use this season as an offering to God?
- Frankincense represents our worship and prayers. Write down three ways you can worship God together with others, not just at church but in your daily life?
- Myrrh represents Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Why is it important to remember Jesus’ whole story, even at Christmas?
- The wise men’s generosity is still remembered today. What kind of legacy do you hope to leave? What can you do to build that legacy now?
Article originally written by Lauren Street
Lauren serves NCF as a marketing and editorial writer and helps curate content for Saturday 7. She has a passion for people’s stories, researching causes, and (as a mother of three young children) raising the next generation to be Christlike stewards.