What does our society call the Friday after Thanksgiving??
We think about giving gifts at least one month ahead of when we plan to give the gifts on Christmas Day. Some think of Christmas gifts one year ahead; have you seen the newspaper for today? Do we really think about the people to give gifts to or are we just looking for good deals?
Is it wrong to give gifts?
Last week, we noted that God gave us a spiritual gift through Jesus Christ and this gift is true everlasting joy! And just like any gift to be meaningful, Jesus Christ has to be received, opened, and experienced. We receive Jesus Christ by believing in everything about Him. We open the Gift of God by reading His Word daily; and we experience Jesus Christ by doing what He tells us.
Today, let’s learn some biblical principles about gift giving.
Please open your Bibles to the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2.
Read along with me verses 1-13……..
Is it wrong to give gifts? Obviously not! God gave us the gift of Jesus Christ, His Word, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. And we just read the wonderful story of the gifts of the Magi.
We are to imitate God and follow the example of the Wise Men from the East and give gifts for the right reasons.
It is clear that God gave us the gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ because He loves us! Why did the Magi (Wise Men) give gifts?
We read at the end of v2 of Matthew 2 the reason why the Magi looked for Jesus Christ; The Magi came to worship Him! The Magi gave gifts to worship God!
Not only did the Magi proclaimed their intent to worship, they gave gifts which has the meaning of worship. Each item, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, were very valuable at the time. Gold of course is still very valuable today. I weigh about 190 pounds; what is the gold worth of my weight do you think??? – almost $4 million!!!
Now, frankincense and myrrh may not be as valuable as gold today; but consider what God says about these materials. Turn briefly with me to Revelation 18:11-13….
Frankincense and myrrh are considered as valuable as gold by God!
And so, the Wise Men gave very valuable gifts worthy of worshiping their new found King! There are 2 immediate applications for us today from this truth:
Look at what your bulletin states regarding our Offerings......
What is our attitude when we give to God’s Church?
This is one of the reasons we pray before our Offerings. We are to have the right hearts when we give to the church. As we pray before our Offering today, seriously humble yourself before your God and worship Him before giving. We really should do this every time we give an Offering to our God. Remember the woman in the Gospels who just gave 2 cents to God? She was commended by Jesus Christ not because of the amount gave but her attitude towards God!
And remember the motto we learned a few weeks ago? Don’t be a Christian Zombie, be a WAMB! Worship God always with our Attitudes, Minds, and Bodies! In other words, worship God with everything! This means that even when we give presents or receive them, we are to worship God! And so the 2nd application for us in relation to the Magi giving gifts to worship is: Glorify God with your gift giving and receiving! We all have to work on this don’t we? Many times I neglect to pray about my giving and receiving. Let us commit to talking to God about our giving and receiving!
There are at least 2 other reasons why the Wise Men gave gifts. They gave gifts to worship God and 2ndly, they gave gifts because there was a need! Where was Joseph, Mary, and Jesus when the Wisemen found them??
Look again at v8-10 of Matthew 2………
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were in a house, likely still in Bethlehem.
Remember that Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem because of the Roman Census. Mary just had a baby and Joseph likely did not have a job in Bethlehem, because he was just visiting; and of course, Joseph was on paternity leave! Joseph and Mary probably just had enough money to stay for a little while in Bethlehem. When the Magi gave them the valuable gifts, Joseph the man probably thought “Wow! Let’s just retire here in Bethlehem!” And Mary the woman of course said “Wow! We can now buy that dreamhouse I’ve always wanted complete with a nursery and a big kitchen!”
What happened? Look again at v13………….
Of all places, God told Joseph and Mary to go to expensive Egypt with a baby!!
Now, you and I would probably hesitate about the move, look at any other options, and we might even pray for further guidance.
Look with me at what Joseph did in v14…
Men, we should all be like Joseph in being the spiritual leader of our household; Just do what God says!
And of course, Joseph then had the resources to travel to Egypt. The Magi gave gifts because there was a need. When we give, first of all is it glorifying God? and secondly, is there really a need?
One more thought about why the Magi gave the gifts. The Wisemen gave gifts because of truth!
The Magi from the East were also called Wisemen because not only did they studied the stars but they pursued truth! And we also can note that God gave the Wisemen truth. How did they know that Jesus was the One to worship? And in v12, we note that God spoke to the Magi in a dream! How can we say that the gifts were based on truths?
Gold is pure, valuable, and beautiful! What does gold represent you think??
When Joseph was made the most powerful man in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, we read in Genesis 41:42, “Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.” And what type of crowns do kings wear? Kings wear gold crowns! Gold represents royalty and kingship! The Magi received Jesus Christ as the King of kings by giving Him gold. Gold represents Kingship!
What about the frankincense and myrrh? We read in Exodus 30:34-36, “Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take fragrant spices — gum resin, onycha and galbanum — and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you.” Frankincense is used for the holy relationship between God and man! The Magi proclaimed Jesus Christ as the Holy Priest for every person by giving Him frankincense!
Frankincense represents Holy Priesthood!
And here’s the amazing thing about myrrh! Anybody know what myrrh is used for??
We find the word myrrh in Mark 15:23 and John 19:39….
Myrrh is used for death and burial!!
The Magi professed that Jesus Christ had to die for their sins by giving Him myrrh! I wonder how Joseph and Mary felt; that was like someone giving you funeral flowers! I think god spoke to the Wisemen and to Joseph and Mary and told them that Jesus will die for the world’s sins! Myrrh represents Savior!
What principles can we apply to our lives regarding giving with truths in mind? You see, people can give gifts that are lies! Gifts can actually be used to harm! Do not give a gift grudgingly or with the intention to hurt! Always give an honest gift! And let us consider this, especially in our society which is becoming more and more evil: Are we giving gifts that lead to lies? Gifts of truth will encourage; gifts of lies will harm!
And so in summary, when we give or receive gifts, let us consider our worship of God, the needs of people, and proclaiming truths!
