‘The gift of giving’ – Theresa

What gift you would bring to a king? What would you give to someone who potentially has everything? Someone who wants for nothing.
 
In the Gospel of Matthew, we read the story of the Wise Men who visit Jesus. They were men on a mission, given clear instructions by Herod to find the Messiah so that he could worship Him. However, we know that Herod’s motives were not pure.

Matthew 2:1-12 says:
 
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:
‘“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.”’
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.An important way in which we can worship Jesus is through our giving. We can be generous in many ways. Take a moment right now and have a think. How do you spend your time, your talent and your treasure? Our gifts do not have to be as elaborate as gold, frankincense or myrrh. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is our time and talent to others in need.
 
With that in mind, think of someone who has found themselves in times of hardship. Maybe this is through the consequences of their actions, or perhaps circumstances inflicted upon them. How can you be someone who worships Jesus through your giving this Christmas? What could you offer someone in need?
 
I would like to encourage you to spend some time giving thanks to God for the gift of life and asking Him how you can be a gift to those around you this Christmas.

Theresa is a PF Volunteer and Angel Tree participant.

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