"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4.19
One of the key moments in the story of Christ’s birth is when the wise men come to visit Jesus, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. At first glance, I feel as though I can relate to these guys because I too love giving gifts, and oftentimes this seems to me like the easiest way to show love to others. Spend a couple bucks on some chocolate, wrap it up, maybe write an encouraging note, and boom! You’re done.
Yet when I study the wise men a bit closer, I am struck by something profound and alarming. They did not merely give presents to their Savior—they also gave up a large chunk of their time to find him while following that star. And time is something that is undeniably much harder for me to give away.
When it comes to generosity, my natural gravitation is to find something that still blesses the other person but won’t cost me that much. After all, if the other person feels loved then what’s the harm in taking the easy route? Jesus, however, isn’t concerned with what we are doing, but rather the spirit in which we are doing it in.
This means that in all that is asked of us, whether it be kindly engaging with a cashier or driving someone to the airport, we must carry out with a heart of obedience and joy. Am I willing to lay down my life in ways that are easy and hard? In the big and small? Because the truth is that Jesus Christ our Savior is the ultimate example of sacrificial generosity. By coming to us in the humble form of a baby, He has given us the biggest gift of all – his eternal presence as Emmanuel, God With Us, forever.
%20(5).png){kind=small}