On Black Friday, I read a headline which stated, “Employee dies after being knocked down by shoppers.” I was astonished. What is this season turning into? Acquiring a large amount of gifts is not necessarily a goal that has to be achieved. On the first Christmas, the quality of gifts was valued over the quantity.
Matthew 2 describes the Magi's journey to find baby Jesus. The scripture does not reference numerous gifts that each of the kings had. Rather, it mentions three gifts that were significant in nature. Gold, Frankincense and myrrh were intended for Jesus (v.11). Gold is durable and everlasting. It is lustrous and a beautiful yellow in its color. Frankincense is a whitish resin that is known for its distinct aroma. Myrrh is a reddish-brown resin which has a powerful scent that is known to cover foul odors. It can also be used for antibiotic healing purposes.
Notice that the Magi were not fixated on their gifts. They were focused on searching for the bright light, which was the purpose of their journey. The Magi were instructed to “Go and make a careful search for the child (Matthew 2:8).” They did not frantically rush to find the king, but reverently sought the star. Finally, the light stopped over the child, and the Magi found the king (v.9). “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10).”
How would the story have been different if they were focused on the gifts rather than finding the star? The purpose of their search would have taken a different meaning. They chose to seek the light that brought them to our Savior; the “wonderful counselor” and “prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6).”
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