The Folly Of Not Following The Wise Men

THE FOLLY OF NOT FOLLOWING THE WISE MEN!

You have heard the phrase, “Out of the mouth of babes?” It comes from the simple truth that sometimes it takes a child to reveal lasting wisdom. It seems foolish but it isn’t!

For example:

Patrick, age 10, said, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”

Michael, 14, said, “When your dad is mad and asks you, "Do I look stupid?" don’t answer him.”

Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One wonders how he discovered that bit of wisdom.

Josh, age 9, said, “Never hold a dust buster and a cat at the same time.”

Naomi, 15 said, “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”

Lauren, age 9 said, “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.”

Joel, 10 years old, said, “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” an

Eileen, age 8 said, “Never try to baptize a cat.”

Proverbs 2:2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied,

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they

saw the star, they were overjoyed. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise

Women instead of Three Wise Men?

They would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole and brought practical gifts.

There are a lot of questions we can not answer about the wise men from the Biblical text. For example:

1. How many were there? We don’t know. We assume 3 because of three gift

2 Where did they come from? We don’t know

3 .How long did their journey take? We don’t know. Some speculate over 500 miles

Mary and Joseph had already left Bethlehem and were living in a house.

4. There are some things we can know and can be life changing:

I. THE WISEMEN WERE WISE IN THEIR DECISION:

The wise men’s journey is one of FAITH.

Matthew 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen

His star in the East.”

What would prompt someone to leave the comfort of their homes to go on a

dangerous journey? Romance? Yes. Wealth? Most definitely. But faith? Yes – faith.

They had seen the star They had faith that He was alive, now all they needed to

do was to find Him. And so they were willing to risk everything to find Him. They were willing to leave the safety of their homes to risk a pearliest journey to seek a King.

Can you imagine their neighbor’s reaction? “Are you going on a journey?”“Yes.” “Where are you going?” “We don’t know for sure.” “How far is it?” Well we don’t know that either.” How long are you going to be gone? Well were not quite sure on that either. Boy for wise men you sure don’t much do yo

They must have said the same things to Abraham when he left his home in Ur of Caldeas for the Promised Land.

They must have said the same things to Noah who was building an ark – even though it had never rained in the history of the earth up till that point.

They must have said the same kind of things to Peter, Andrew, John and James when they left the fishing nets to become fishers of men. What are you crazy? Are you insane? Are you out of your minds?