What Gifts Do You Bring? Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction
One of the most appealing Christmas stories is that of Amal and the Night Visitors. The three wise men are on the way to Bethlehem, and they come to the home of a poor woman who has a little boy named Amal. Amal is crippled; he could not walk without a crutch.
One evening their humdrum existence was interrupted by a loud knocking at their door, and his mother said to Amal, “Go see who is at the door.” He went, and he came back and said, “Momma, a king is there.”
She lashed him with her tongue for exaggerating so much and sent him back to the door, and he came back the second time. He said, “There are two kings out there.” He was in big trouble by then. So for a third time she sent him to the door, and he said, “Momma, there are three kings out there.”
Eventually, after all kinds of conversation, the three wise men came in. After much conversation Amal’s mother wished she had something to send but she was very poor. Amal, sensing what was happening all around him, sensing he had nothing at all to send but wanting to send something, decided, “I will send my crutch.” The one thing that was indispensable to him, he was going to give away. So he lifted up his crutch and gave it to the wise men.
He gave what he had; he gave it personally; he gave it completely. And then a miracle occurred. His mother noticed first that he could walk now. The giving away of the most valuable treasure that Amal had was the very thing that freed him from the need of having to use it.
Transition
Today’s Gospel reading is found in Matthew 2:1-12 where the story of the three wise men coming to worship at the feet of Jesus is told. It is during this time of year, immediately following Christmas, that we commemorate this event.
This week is widely celebrated as the Epiphany. It is when we remember the events directly after the birth of Jesus. It is a time when we, like the magi who followed a distant star, are reminded of the fullest meaning of the coming of Jesus.
While they are often referred to as kings, it is probably more likely that they were astrologers familiar in some way with the coming of the Messiah.
They may have been descendants of some who had even come into contact with the Messianic prophecies during the Babylonian captivity of the Nation of Israel some centuries prior to the birth of Christ.
Whatever their background; they were wise men from the East who were provoked to action by a star which signaled Christ’s birth. They came to worship at the feet of the new born King, each bearing a uniquely valuable gift.
This morning I pose to you this question – What gifts do you bring to the King?
Exposition
The Magi came before Jesus bearing gifts of incredible value. God has placed gifts of incredible value inside of each one of us. Just as the Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, each of us bears unique and valuable gifts for the Kingdom of God.
Our calling from God is to share whatever gifts we have in common for the benefit of the mission of the community of faith. I’m terribly afraid though that many believers today do not recognize or have not been told what that mission is.
The mission of the church is twofold; to edify the saints and to share the love of Christ with this world which is in desperate need of hope.
I Corinthians 12:25-27 says, “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” (NASB)
We are all members of one body and our gifts – whatever they may be – are meant to serve one another so that the love of Christ may shine brightly in, around, and forth – from the fellowship that we share together.
Illustration
I am reminded of the story of the Pastor of a congregation in rural Pennsylvania. One day he found two containers on his desk with a note from a thoughtful church member, wishing that he and his wife would sample her home cooking.
One container held some delicious hearty soup, which they ate the next day. The Pastor tasted the other food, which appeared to be an odd squash dish.
Being suspect, it eventually was discarded. Meanwhile, the Pastor and his wife thanked the woman for her gracious gift, especially the soup. They avoided mentioning the “squash,” which they felt guilty about wasting.
Weeks later, the Pastor was talking with the church custodian about the damage that craft projects were inflicting on the carpet in the children’s classroom. I already cleaned it up, the custodian said. “Didn’t you see the great wad of Play-Dough I put in a container on your desk a just few weeks ago?”
Exposition
Sometimes we mistake our gifts don’t we? How often do we bear gifts as though they are burdens? How often do we lock away our treasures for fear of loss?
A lack of confidence in our ability to serve God with our gifts reflects much more than simply a lack of confidence in ourselves; it reflects a lack of understanding of the true nature of the power of God to enable us.
Acts 1:8 the words of Christ are recorded, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (NASB)
We have at our disposal the power of God within us. As followers of Christ we are given the matchless opportunity to experience the extraordinary power of God working in and thorough us.
D.L. Moody once wrote, “God commands us to be filled with the Spirit, and if we are not filled, it is because we are living beneath our privileges.” O, that it might not be said of us that we lived as poppers all the while being children of the King!
Illustration
My two year old son Sebastian loves tools! In fact any time that I am using a drill then he has to have his toy drill. He follows me around screwing in imaginary screws on window sills and walls – the whole time saying over and over again, “I shrew, I shrew!”
But what he really likes if I let him actually use his drill in a real screw that I am with. Of course it won’t actually turn anything but this matters-not to Sebastian. He lacks absolutely no confidence in his ability to really fix things with his plastic pretend drill.
I’m terribly afraid that far too often we are just the opposite. How often do we hold a very powerful tool but because we misunderstand its potential, because we think that we are not capable or perhaps not even worthy, we pass up opportunities to share our gifts with others?
Exposition
1 Corinthians 14:26 says, in regard to these things, “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (NASB)
Each of us has unique gifts that are meant for building up one another and for the building up of the kingdom of God. No matter how young or old you may be, regardless of how rich or poor you are, and absolutely independent of your rung on the social latter, each of us has a distinct purpose and function for the Kingdom.
What is even more powerful than that is the fact that we don’t have to rely on our own strength to use those gifts. We have been blessed with the very presence of God within us to enable us for every good work.
We have been given the gift of grace. It not that we need to earn God’s favor; No! What I am speaking of today is something far greater than that.
We have been invited to be “Kingdom Builders” on a mission to share the love of God and in so doing – build the very kingdom of God. Ours is a holy task of participation in the plan of God by the power of His Holy Spirit within us.
Conclusion
So, again, I ask you the question, “What gifts do you bring to the King?”
We have been given the incredible opportunity to partner with the very God of the Universe in building His Kingdom. The call of Christ is a call to action! Just as the Magi saw a distant star and followed it to the baby – the King of Kings – so too God has given us a sign of His coming and a call to action.
Earlier in this message I told you of a boy who gave the only thing of value that he had to the Magi to bring to the King.; A crippled boy who was willing to give the most valuable thing he had – his crutch – as a gift to Christ.
The story continues that as a result of his generous offer, he was healed. The message is clear. It is in sharing our most precious gifts that we find healing.
It is in loving others – it is in sharing our gifts – that we become free to receive the most precious gift of all – the grace, love, and mercy of Christ in our own lives.
This morning, I encourage you to recommit yourself to looking for ways to shower gifts upon the King as you fulfill His command to let Him love others through you!
Amen.
