“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” - Matthew 2:1-2
In our country, there is a great emphasis placed on education. It is a good thing to acquire knowledge. Knowledge can help a person go far in a career or trade. The pursuit of knowledge has led to many discoveries and cures.
Yet there is something even better than knowledge. Knowledge is simply the accumulation of information. On the other hand, wisdom includes making good decisions and practicing discernment. To put it in a different way, wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Wisdom includes doing the right things at the right time and in the right way. Knowledge deals with information but wisdom involves application. Wisdom enables a person to know what the best choice is and leads him to make that choice.
When Jesus was born, men came seeking Him. The Bible refers to them as being wise men. The Bible gives us little information about these men. Most people refer to them as the three wise men, but the Bible doesn't specifically number these men. They did bring three types of gifts, but this does not necessarily indicate that there were three men.
In spite of the fact that there is little information about these wise men, the Bible does give us some insight about them. As we near the Christmas holiday, may we embrace the same actions that they took.
First of all, the wise men sought the Lord. They came looking for Jesus. If we would be wise today, we must do the same. The Bible says, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.” Jesus said, “Seek and ye shall find.” Few people seek the Lord today. Even among the Christian community, many seek something from the Lord rather than seeking the Lord Himself. Be wise yourself and seek the Lord with all your heart. God says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Be wise and seek Him.
Secondly, the wise men served the Lord. They brought their gifts to Him. Traditionally, we give and receive gifts at Christmas, yet the One who is having a birthday is not on our gift list. Strange, isn't it? The wise person gives to the Lord at Christmas and throughout the year. Whether you give a little extra at the church, make a special financial gift to a favorite ministry or give to a needy family, give it in the Name of the Lord. Also, you can lend your talents and serve your fellow man in the Name of the Lord. Help at a soup kitchen, visit someone in a hospital or nursing home, or call someone who is lonely, like a widow. In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” Be wise and serve in His Name.
Third, the wise men worshiped the Lord. They knelt before the Lord in act of submission. Where are the worshipers today? It isn't difficult to find people who worship a sports team, a movie star or a musician, but it is difficult to find those who regularly worship the Lord. Why did the wise men worship? They recognized Jesus as being One who is worthy of worship. They knew Him to the Messiah, the King of Kings. They didn't worship Herod, but they did worship Jesus. The reason that few people worship the Lord today is that they fail to see Him as He really is.
The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. God is the source of wisdom. He provides wisdom as a gift to those who ask for it (James 1:5). That is the reason that wisdom is rare these days. Few ask for it.
Despite the consumer mindset that drives much of our Christmas traditions, it is important that we remember the true meaning of the day. Christmas is not really about little children receiving gifts. Neither is it about having a big meal with family. These aren't bad things, but they miss the point.
Christmas is all about Jesus. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth. He was born of a virgin. He came to the tiny town of Bethlehem on a mission of love. He came to redeem us from our sins.
As we approach Christmas, let us be wise and focus on Jesus. Like the wise men, let us seek the Lord. Let us serve the Lord. Let us worship the Lord.
Be wise!
No comments:
Post a Comment