What Did You Give For Christmas

WHAT DID YOU GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS? by Rev. Rick Mays

Pastor, Trinity Temple Assembly of God

Arkadelphia, AR 71923

Matthew 2:1-12

In today's society, it would be hard to imagine Christmas without presents. Children around the world woke up yesterday morning with excitement as they came into the living room and saw presents under their tree.

Gift paper flew through the air as presents were unwrapped. Squeals of joy were heard throughout the morning over presents received.

If you were to guess the number one question on the play grounds of America leading up to Christmas what would that question be...

Most likely it would be, what are you getting for Christmas?

But now that Christmas past, come next Monday when school starts, what will be the question...

Most likely, what did you get for Christmas?

However, this morning I want to preach from the title...

WHAT DID YOU GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS?

Matthew 2:1-12

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,

2 "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him."

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.

4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"

5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they said, "for this is what the prophet wrote:

6 'And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.

8 Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.

10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Even though we may not understand the true power of giving, most people enjoy giving.

We know God is the ultimate giver ... John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son...

We know Jesus said ... Acts 20:35

35 …It is more blessed to give than to receive.

You could almost say that the theme of the New Testament is giving...

God gave...

Jesus gave...

Apostles gave...

Early believers gave…

We are told in scripture to...

Give a drink of water

Give of our resources

Give our bodies

We are to be a vessel that God can pour His blessings and gifts through and not a holding tank to store them.

I hear people all the time say that want to or need to receive more from the Lord. And I guess that is a good desire. However to receive more we must be willing to give more.

Now with all that said, if I were to ask you what the Wisemen gave you would say...

Gold - Frankincense - Myrrh

And I guess on the surface you would be right. But I want you to see that their giving was much deeper than what we see.

Let me show you three things the Wisemen gave at Christmas.

1:THEY GAVE THEIR TIME...

vs. 1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,

We could debate where these men were from and we might be right or we could be wrong. All we are told is that are from eastern lands.

But what I want you to see is this...

They didn't see the stat one day

Jump on their camels the next morning

Ride over to Bethlehem

And then back home by night fall

These men sacrificed a great amount time to go and worship Jesus. They literally set their life on hold until they found the baby.

Our world has it all backwards now. Instead of Jesus being our life, we simply add Him to our already busy schedule.