A Gift Worth Giving

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: “AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.”’ Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.” Matthew 2:1-12

There is no time like Christmas! The beauty of Christmas is that it is a profound message, simply given. Christmas is about giving - “...for God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son...”

Here in our text we see the wise men coming from the east, with gifts for the Christ child. Notice two things -
1. They were personally given.
These were wealthy people - could have sent them, but they took them personally.

2. They were properly given.
It was more than a gift - not just gold, frankincense and myrrh.

These were gifts that were given with glory, adoration, honor, and with the worship of Jesus in mind.
- Gold is a gift for a king.
- Frankincense carries with it the idea of purity.
- Myrrh is what you use when someone was to be buried.

In these three gifts you see God giving us insight into the life of His Son.

John Maxwell reminds us that there are three kinds of gifts that we give at Christmas.
1. Gifts for a gift - gift.
We receive a gift and we give a gift for the gift. We look, we value, we reciprocate.
We keep the stores busy at Christmas just giving gifts for the gifts we were given.

2. A gift for a favor -gift.
We give a gift expecting not a gift back from you, but a favor down the line.
Employee - Employer.

3. A grace gift - gift.
A gift that is un-repayable.
Christ gave His life for us. You can never repay Him for it. You can only receive it, and thank Him for it.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” II Cor 9:15