“...and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
At first glance, it may appear that the only gifts the Magi presented to Jesus were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Costly gifts to be sure, yet, there lay hidden beneath the gilded robes of these men another gift. A gift that was much more precious, much more valuable than the three we are familiar with.
Considered by the world as wisemen because of their superior knowledge of astronomy and astrology, this is not what made them truly wise. It was not even their worship of Jesus that made them wise, nor was it the overflowing of gifts to Him out of their worship that made them wise. What made these wise guys wise was belief in the Word of God. It was out of this belief that everything else flowed.
“Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)
Long before their journey to worship had ever begun, as astrologers, they had seen the star in the East, and being familiar with the Scriptures, they believed in and saw fulfillment of prophecy. It was belief in God’s Word that preceded the purpose of their journey. Put the two together, belief and the journey based on that belief, and in that they had gained a heart of wisdom. Knowledge of God’s Word does not become wisdom in our lives until it is acted upon in faith. A heart of wisdom. More valuable than gold, frankincense and myrrh. As they fell to the ground and worshipped Him, it was a heart of wisdom that they were truly presenting to Him.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
To number our days is to have an understanding and respect of the brevity of our time here on planet earth. The psalmist realized that time is a precious gift. A gift that no one but God Himself can give. So, he went to the Giver of time to be taught by Him, how to number his days. How to live wisely in the time apportioned to him.
You and I have also been given, not only the gift of time, but also a gift from the magi. It’s a principle. A principle that teaches us that what we believe will ultimately chart the course of our days. What made these guys so wise is that they had numbered their days, their calendars if you will, with the ink of belief in the Word of God, and then lived out their journey accordingly.
Additional Reading: Proverbs 8:11 Proverbs 16:16 Ecclesiastes 2:26
Colossians 2:2-3 James 3:17 James 1:5 Proverbs 3:13
