What do you give someone who has everything? That’s a gift-giving challenge faced by many of us who live in an affluent society. The people we love seem to have everything they need. Still, love moves us to try to find the right gift to give this Christmas.
In a sense, we face the same problem when it comes to giving a gift to the One whose incarnation we celebrate each year. What do you give Jesus? Afterall, He literally has everything He needs.
Still, our love for Jesus moves us to want to give Him a gift. He’s given so much to us—forgiveness, new life, the promise of heaven. So we want to bring Him a gift to express our gratitude and affection. But what do you get the One who has everything?
Thankfully, there are some wise men who can give us some sage advice on giving a gift to Jesus. The gifts these wise men gave to Jesus are ones we still talk about today. Matthew’s gospel records the account of their legendary gift giving in Matthew 2:1-11. These verses help us by showing us how we can bring just the right gift to honour Jesus at Christmas (and all year long).
Here are three lessons we can learn from the Magi about giving the right gift to Jesus.
Give a gift that starts in your heart
That’s what the Magi did. We tend to focus on their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But those aren’t the first gifts they gave. Listen to verse 11: “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
Notice the order. First, they fell down and worshipped. Then, they opened their treasures. In other words, before they opened their treasures, they opened their hearts. As they had announced to the people of Jerusalem, they had “come to worship” the newborn king of the Jews (2:2).
Heart-felt worship is more than words. Herod used the word “worship” in his instructions to the Magi: “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” The right words came from Herod’s lips, but he had no worship in his heart. True worship always starts in the heart.
Give a gift of something you treasure
That’s what the Magi did. Verse 11 tells us, “Then they opened their treasures….” They opened up the box or chest where they stored their valuables. They reached in and brought out gifts that mattered to them, the best they had.
The same holds true for us when it comes to giving the Lord Jesus a gift at Christmas. We should give Him something we treasure. In fact, if we don’t offer a gift that matters to us, it may not mean much to Him.
Maybe you read this and think, “I’m not sure I can do that. I don’t happen to have a treasure chest filled with gold. I’m not able to bring some expensive gift.”
If you worry about that, I have some good news for you. Remember the story of the widow who gave her offering at the Temple? After some wealthy people put sacks of cash into the Temple treasury, she dropped in her two coins. Jesus said she had outgiven all of them (Mark 12:43-44).
My parents have an old tape recording that my dad made one Christmas when my two sisters and I were quite young. On the recording you hear my dad ask my two-year old sister, Renè, what she was going to give Jesus this year for Christmas? She thought a second and then answered, “A penny.” In the background you can hear me burst out laughing, followed by Renè starting to cry. Based on the story of the widow and her two copper coins, I don’t think Jesus was laughing. Renè was giving the best she had.
The gift we give to Jesus may not seem like much to others, but if it’s a gift that means a great deal to us, it will mean a great deal to Him as well.
Give a gift that’s fit for a King
When we give gifts at Christmas we try to give gifts that match the person receiving them. We look for clothes that fit their size and style. Or a book on a topic that interests them. Or a gift card to a restaurant they enjoy.
When the Magi brought gifts to Jesus, they brought gifts that were fitting for Him. Gold was a fitting gift for the One “born king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2). Incense, which is linked to worship (Leviticus 2:1-2), made sense since they had come to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:2). Myrrh was another fitting choice as it was one of the spices used for burial. Jesus had come to sacrifice His life, dying on the cross to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Nicodemus put myrrh on Jesus’ body before placing Him in the tomb (John 19:39).
Selecting The Perfect Gift for Jesus
So if, like me, you want to give a gift to Jesus this Christmas, you’d be wise to take some advice from the Magi: give a gift that mirrors your heart, matters to you, and matches His person.
Maybe it will be an evening spent in prayer and praise this Christmas season. Or the choice to forgive someone who’s hurt you in the past. Or serving someone in need who can’t return the favour. Or making the effort to memorize a chapter of Scripture to keep your focus on Christ. Or going on a short-term mission next summer. Or…you get the idea.
So what do you give Jesus, the One who has everything? The gift He wants most is you!
Rick and Linda Reed 