Our Gifts Unto God; This Christmas and Beyond

Matthew 2: 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. (NLT)

As we rush through the season, the relatives, the feasts, the exchange of presents and the rituals or ceremonies let us pause for a moment to realize that the original Christmas gifts were given to God. They speak to us from the pages of Matthew's Gospel and serve as a reminder that while God Almighty may not need anything we can still seek to give gifts unto Him this season. While He may not need anything, there are certainly things He desires from us. Much has been written about the spiritual significance of the gifts of the Magi and how they represent the offices Christ would hold for us as King, Priest, and Savior. But there are other truths hidden in this story for us to consider this Christmas season as we decide what we will give to the God who has given us everything.

Besides having spiritual value; the gifts presented to the baby Jesus were of real earthly value as well. They cost something to the Magi. The key verse actually goes as far as to say that they were brought to Bethlehem in "treasure chests." The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh had secular value beyond the religiosity they carried with them. They are widely considered by historians to be of the finest value in the known world at that time.

What is God saying to us here? If you are going to present something to God it should cost you something. Too often we can come flippantly to God. We can put on a good show but have little substance behind what we do. God doesn't want a cubic zirconia gift He wants the real thing! Not because of the actual value of the gift but because of what it means to us. How we value it. David once was instructed to build an altar by God to offer sacrifice to atone for a prideful sin. He offered to pay for the threshing floor of one of his subjects to build the altar but the man who owned it was willing to give it to David for free (he was the king after all). Here was the response from King David:

Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." 2Samuel 24: 24 (NKJV)

And neither should we seek to offer a gift unto God that costs us nothing. We should not make a sacrifice which costs us nothing. The first gift of the Magi was gold. Widely regarded and known; gold was a regal gift. It was the gift that had the most perceived value. It is the first gift God desires from us beloved. He wants us to give Him what we value. He wants us to turn it over to Him. Anything that we might harbor as meaning more to us than God must be given over to Him. Gold is representative of that which we value the most. It might be actual money, as in the case of the rich man who asked what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus saw into his heart and saw that money meant more to him than God so he told him to sell everything he had an give it to the poor. Here was the reaction of that man:

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. Luke 18: 23 (NLT)

This rich man was not ready to open his treasure chest and provide as a gift to God the one thing that meant more to him. Perhaps the thing we hold most dear is our time. We value it above all else. It is like gold to us. We believe in God but we do not give Him any of our precious time. We put everything else into our schedule but God can't seem to get more than an hour and a half on Sunday. We worry about all the little details of our lives and don't spend any time seeking Him. What does Jesus say about that?

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6: 33 (ESV)

When we put God first in everything; we are giving unto Him the gold of our lives. We open our treasure chests and pour out for Him anything that would get in the way of drawing close to Him.

The second gift of the Magi was frankincense. This gum resin was primarily used for two different reasons in the days of Christ. First, it was renowned for its aromatic properties. Even still to this day, frankincense is one of the sweetest smelling aromas we know of. It was actually used in Roman and Greek homes as perfume. We would liken this today to an offering of praise to God. The second usage pertains mostly to how it was used within Jewish tradition. During the days of the Temple, frankincense was burned on the inner altar of the Tabernacle during the morning and evening hours. It was related to intercession with God. It was representative of prayer. After we have given up to God as a gift, that which we hold in most value; the next gift He would desire from us would be prayer and praise. The Psalmist understood this:

Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering. Psalm 141: 2 (NLT)

Prayer is the primary means of developing our relationship with God. God doesn't want to date you He wants a commitment. Committed people have conversation. They communicate. That is how the relationship is supposed to develop, to strengthen, to mature. How serious does God take prayer?

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4: 2 (NLT)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5: 16-18

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. Proverbs 15:8

We are supposed to be devoted to prayer. Interesting use of words since prayer is the measure of our relationship with God. We are to be devoted to Him. That devotion is fostered through prayer. That is why when you take 15 minutes to read something like this and reflect to God it is called a devotional. You are investing in your relationship with God. Drawing closer to Him. We are also supposed to pray continually. While this may seem like an impossibility to our finite minds we need to take it at face value. What God is saying here is that He wants to be on the forefront of our minds, in everything we do. Prayer should not be an occasion but rather a state of mind. It should not be something scheduled as much as it should be a God consciousness. Lastly, prayer is so important because it actually pleases God! That is the gift you can give Him this Christmas. He desires what you hold most valuable and He is pleased by your prayer and devotion.

The same goes for praise the other inference from the frankincense gift of the Magi. Our praise is like a sweet aroma to God. It places us in the correct posture of humility before Him. How serious does God take praise?

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22: 3 (ESV)

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13: 15 (ESV)

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23 (ESV)

God actually inhabits the praises of His people! Prayer draws us towards God and praise draws Him towards us! That is why the Bible says to enter His gates with thanksgiving. Once again we see the "continuous" language. God recognizes that this is actually a sacrifice on our part because praise is not always easy. When life is tough and we are facing trials and tribulations, it is then that praise is needed even more. When Paul and Silas were in prison and in stocks it was their singing praise and hymns unto God that brought His mighty presence into that cell and freed them! Lastly, as prayer pleases God He is also seeking people to worship Him in spirit and in truth. That is the gift you can give Him this Christmas! He desires what you hold most valuable, is pleased by your prayer and devotion, and is seeking your praise and worship.

The last gift of the Magi was myrrh. This was another gum resin of the time which Jesus walked the earth but it had a different use. It was primarily used as a burial spice and the Egyptians used it for embalming. It was more adhesive than frankincense, sealing the wound from the tree it was drawn from far easier. Its usage with death and sealing what was wounded correlates to our faith. We have faith that death in this mortal body is only the beginning of an eternal life spent with God. We believe by faith that our past wounds are healed and sealed by the author and finisher of that faith Jesus Christ. Faith is the last gift we can consider giving unto God this season. How serious does God take the issue of faith?

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. 1John 5:4 (ESV)

And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Mark 9: 23 (ESV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11: 6 (NLT)

Our faith is what overcomes the world! How great a promise is that? No matter what we face, no matter how great the trial God is greater and our faith in Him overcomes the adversity we face. In the popular song "How Great is Our God", we sing the refrain, "Name above all names." This is what that chorus means! His name is above whatever we are facing. Marital problems God's name is above them. Bad doctor's report God's name is above the diagnosis. No matter the storm, its intensity, or its duration God's name is above it! But only by faith. It is our faith that allows what seems impossible for the finite mind of man. The impenetrable walls of Jericho stood before Joshua. The instructions from God to march around the city seven times must not have made much sense militarily. But by faith Joshua obeyed and the walls fell. Sometimes we can't see past the overwhelming walls in our lives but God is waiting for us to show the correct measure of faith to watch them crumble before us. Lastly, it is simply impossible to please God without faith. Faith is the gift you can give Him this Christmas!

What gift can we give God this Christmas? It starts with giving up to Him what you hold most valuable. What is the gold in your life that you keep in your treasure chest? Put God ahead of it. It continues with the gifts of praise and prayer. Your devotion pleases God and your sacrifice of praise is what He is seeking. Lastly, without your faith none of it matters. It is your faith that seals the deal, like the adhesive myrrh resin. The Magi had brought their gifts so long ago to the newborn King. It cost them something what they treasured. And after, they were changed:

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. Matthew 2: 12 (NLT)

The final lesson here is that when we exercise the giving of these gifts we will find ourselves on another path a different route. We cannot return to a faithless life, hoarding our gold in our treasure chest, refusing to sacrifice praise and live a life of prayer. As much as the gifts are for God He turns them around and makes them about us. He strengthens us through them. He matures us through them. He completes us through them. Give the gifts today. Celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior by lavishing everything upon Him and discover why it is truly better to give than receive.

Reverend Anthony Wade December 14, 2010