Give a Gift

"On coming to the house,

 they saw the child with his mother Mary,

and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and

presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

Matthew 2:11

The news of the shootings, stabbings, pepper spray attacks and brawls circulated across the country.  Was this some kind of demonstration gone bad, or a prison riot?  No, these were incidents that happened on Black Friday, the first official shopping day of the Christmas season.

Gift giving is a big part of the American holiday experience, leading some to resort to violence in an effort to snag the best possible gifts.  But why do we give?  On, or shortly after, that first Christmas over 2000 years ago, a group of magi from the east appeared to worship the Messiah.  The gifts they presented were chosen carefully and not the result of a frenzied shopping spree.  Rather, they were symbols of who they believed this child to be.

Gold  The first gift was to show their respect for the King of kings.  According to the prophecy found in Isaiah 9:7, "He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."  That's like no king we've ever seen before!  Gold is given not because a king needs it, but because a reigning king is worthy of the finest gift that can be found.  Am I giving my very best to Jesus, my King?

Frankincense  When the Israelites made sacrifices to the Lord, an offering of grain could be chosen as a memorial, or remembrance, offering.  "And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:  And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD." (Leviticus 2:1-2  KJV)  This offering, given freely as a way to demonstrate to God the giver's attention to God's commandments, is received by God as an aroma pleasing to Him.  The wise men gave the gift of Frankincense as a show of worship and devotion to the living God.  Am I living my life out of worship of, devotion to and reverence for God and His commandments?

Myrrh  This aromatic resin harvested from certain trees was an ingredient utilized in fragrant perfumes and was often used as an embalming agent.  This gift was symbolic of the sacrifice Jesus was making in entering into His own creation and ultimately laying down his life.  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)    The purpose for Jesus' birth into a sinful world is clear.  "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17)   The gift of myrrh was given as a reminder of the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus.  Do I keep my Savior's unspeakable sacrifice at the forefront of my thoughts?

It is easy to get caught up in the materialism of the American Christmas.  But my prayer is that this Christmas, every activity I choose, every cookie I bake, every carol I sing, will be done with a purpose in mind.  Just as the wise men brought gifts which symbolized the position, power and purpose of Jesus, let me live my life in such a way that brings honor to Him.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that this Christmas season will be a time used to honor the sacrifice Jesus made in coming down into a sinful world in order to save me from that sin.

How am I holding a low view of Christmas, allowing it to become only about the presents, parties and decorations?

Where am I demeaning the memory of the birth of Christ?