Wise Gifts: Faith, Wisdom, and God's Provision
Summary
In the exploration of the narrative of the wise men visiting Jesus, a profound reflection on the nature of gifts and their deeper significance is presented. The wise men, often depicted as kings in traditional Christmas carols, are more accurately described as scholars or intellectuals of their time, known as Magi. Their journey to Bethlehem, guided by a star, is an act of faith and a quest for wisdom. The gifts they bring—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—hold symbolic meanings that reveal the identity of Jesus as king, priest, and prophet, and foreshadow his sacrificial death for humanity's redemption.
The discussion delves into the concept of wisdom, noting that each era has its own prevailing wisdom that may seem outdated in hindsight. The Magi, considered wise in their time for their study of the stars and dreams, would be viewed differently today. This highlights the transient nature of worldly wisdom compared to the enduring truth of God's word. C.S. Lewis's quote, "All that is not eternal is eternally out of date," encapsulates the idea that only eternal truths remain relevant across time.
The narrative also emphasizes the importance of faith, as exemplified by the wise men's willingness to embark on a perilous journey to worship a child they believed to be the King of the Jews. Their actions demonstrate a profound trust in the divine, a faith that leads them to recognize Jesus's true nature and offer their worship and gifts, which ultimately belong to him as the creator.
Furthermore, the reflection touches upon the idea of contentment and the sufficiency of God's provision. In a society that often promotes self-improvement and material gain, there is a call to find contentment in the recognition that God provides enough. This is illustrated by the wise men's journey, where despite doubts and uncertainties, they find fulfillment in their encounter with Jesus.
The gifts and talents that individuals possess are seen as blessings from God, meant to be used in service to others. This stewardship of God's varied grace is a mission to reflect the light and love of Jesus in a world filled with darkness and brokenness. The narrative encourages the use of these gifts to glorify God and to be a source of hope and love to those in need.
The reflection concludes with a prayer, acknowledging God as the giver of all good gifts and expressing gratitude for the wisdom, faith, and sufficiency that He provides. The prayer also includes intercessions for various needs within the community, from health and healing to comfort in times of grief. The intimate connection with God is celebrated, and there is a call to bring love to the world, inspired by the love of God.
Key Takeaways:
- The gifts of the wise men to Jesus symbolize the deeper truth of Jesus's identity and mission. Gold represents his kingship, frankincense his priestly role, and myrrh his prophetic fulfillment of suffering and redemption. These gifts remind believers that the ultimate gift is Jesus himself, who embodies these roles for the salvation of humanity. [50:18]
- Wisdom is a divine gift that transcends the changing perspectives of different eras. While each age has its own understanding of wisdom, the eternal wisdom of God remains constant and relevant. This challenges believers to discern and hold fast to the eternal truths of God's word amidst the shifting sands of cultural wisdom. [39:14]
- Faith is a powerful force that drives individuals to act beyond their understanding and comfort. The journey of the wise men is a testament to the transformative power of faith, which leads them to recognize and worship Jesus. This faith is a model for believers to trust in God's guidance, even when the path is uncertain. [43:23]
- Contentment is found in the sufficiency of God's provision, not in the pursuit of worldly aspirations. The reflection encourages a shift from seeking happiness in external achievements to finding joy and peace in the knowledge that God provides enough for every need. This contentment is rooted in a deep trust in God's faithfulness and generosity. [47:22]
- The use of individual gifts and talents is a call to serve one another and glorify God. Believers are encouraged to recognize their unique abilities as part of God's varied grace and to use them in a way that reflects the love and light of Jesus to the world. This stewardship is an integral part of the Christian mission to bring hope and healing to those in darkness. [48:00]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 2:1-12 - The story of the wise men visiting Jesus and presenting their gifts.
2. 1 Peter 4:10-11 - "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
3. Isaiah 60:1-3 - Prophecy about nations coming to the light and kings to the brightness of the dawn.
#### Observation Questions
1. What gifts did the wise men bring to Jesus, and what do these gifts symbolize? (Matthew 2:11)
2. How did the wise men find Jesus, and what was their reaction upon seeing Him? (Matthew 2:9-10)
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the wise men being scholars or intellectuals of their time? [36:54]
4. What does 1 Peter 4:10-11 say about the use of individual gifts and talents?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How do the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh reveal the identity and mission of Jesus? (Matthew 2:11)
2. In what ways does the story of the wise men illustrate the transient nature of worldly wisdom compared to the enduring truth of God's word? [39:14]
3. How does the faith of the wise men, as described in the sermon, serve as a model for believers today? [43:23]
4. What does it mean to be a good steward of God's varied grace according to 1 Peter 4:10-11, and how can this be applied in our daily lives?
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the gifts you have received from God. How can you use these gifts to serve others and glorify God in your community? [48:00]
2. The wise men embarked on a perilous journey guided by faith. Is there a situation in your life where you need to step out in faith despite uncertainties? How can you trust in God's guidance in this situation? [43:23]
3. The sermon emphasizes contentment in God's provision. Are there areas in your life where you struggle with contentment? How can you shift your focus from worldly aspirations to finding joy in God's sufficiency? [47:22]
4. The wise men recognized Jesus's true nature and worshiped Him. How can you cultivate a deeper recognition and worship of Jesus in your daily life? [43:23]
5. Consider the quote from C.S. Lewis mentioned in the sermon: "All that is not eternal is eternally out of date." How can this perspective influence your decisions and priorities in life? [40:19]
6. The sermon calls for using our gifts to reflect the light and love of Jesus. Identify one specific way you can be a source of hope and love to someone in need this week. [48:00]
7. The wise men brought gifts that ultimately belonged to Jesus as the creator. How can you acknowledge and offer back to God the blessings and talents He has given you? [45:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Jesus' Multifaceted Gift
The gifts of the Magi to Jesus are not just treasures but symbols of His divine roles. Gold signifies His kingship, frankincense His priesthood, and myrrh His prophetic destiny to suffer and redeem. These gifts invite believers to see Jesus as the ultimate gift who fulfills these roles for humanity's salvation. [50:18]
Matthew 2:11 - "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."
Reflection: How can you honor Jesus in your daily life as your king, priest, and prophet?
Day 2: Holding Fast to Eternal Wisdom
Worldly wisdom changes with time, but God's wisdom is eternal and unchanging. As cultures evolve, what is considered wise today may be outdated tomorrow. Yet, the wisdom that comes from God stands the test of time and guides believers to live by eternal truths. [39:14]
1 Corinthians 1:25 - "For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek and apply God's eternal wisdom in your life instead of relying on the transient wisdom of the world?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Faith
The journey of the Magi exemplifies the transformative power of faith, leading them to recognize and worship the newborn King. This faith goes beyond understanding and comfort, guiding believers to trust in God's plan even when the path ahead is unclear. [43:23]
Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to exercise more faith, and how can you take a step of faith in that direction today?
Day 4: Finding Contentment in God's Provision
True contentment comes from trusting in God's sufficiency rather than chasing after worldly achievements. The Magi's fulfillment in their encounter with Jesus teaches that joy and peace are found in the knowledge that God provides for all needs. [47:22]
Philippians 4:11-12 - "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Reflection: How can you practice contentment today, trusting that God has provided all that you need?
Day 5: Stewardship of God's Varied Grace
Believers are called to use their unique gifts and talents in service to others, reflecting Jesus's love and light in a world of darkness. Recognizing these abilities as part of God's grace, they are to be used to glorify God and bring hope to those in need. [48:00]
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What is one gift or talent you have been blessed with, and how can you use it to serve someone in your community this week?
Quotes
1) "God gives us enough like one of my prayers for us as a church is that we would be a church that is content just saying yeah God is enough." [47:22] (Download)
2) "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." [48:00] (Download)
3) "You've been called on Mission that there is going to be darkness in this world and you are called to reflect the light and the love of Jesus to push back on that." [49:07] (Download)
4) "God is The Giver of every gift that we have... even the gifts that they bring to Jesus speak to the gift that Jesus is to the world." [50:18] (Download)
5) "By faith the wise men risk their lives to see this child by faith they worship this small child who still needs Mom and Dad to take care of him." [45:04] (Download)
6) "In every generation there's always going to be something that future generations are going to look back on and laugh at, yet the word of the Lord endures forever." [40:19] (Download)
7) "All that is not Eternal is eternally out of date... the wisdom of God remains constant and relevant." [40:57] (Download)
8) "The gift of wisdom is a beautiful thing which leads us to our second point that God gives us faith." [42:43] (Download)
9) "We are about two weeks out from Christmas... it's easy in that kind of New Year's rush to have these aspirations to say man I would really be content if I just lost that weight if I just got that promotion." [46:16] (Download)
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