‘Opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts…’ (Matthew 2:11)
I wonder what sort of gift-giver you are? Do you have creative ideas, effortlessly putting together fun, interesting and unique Christmas presents for your loved ones? Maybe you reflect on each person on your list and come up with perfectly personalised gifts? Perhaps you’re on the other end of the spectrum and pick up random items, in blind panic, on Christmas Eve? Most people are probably somewhere in the middle, working their way through a list of names and doing their best to find a meaningful gift.
As I have been re-reading the Christmas story this year the above words from the bible have stuck in my mind. They come from the story of the wise men who found the baby Jesus at the end of their journey. Filled with joy they bowed down, paid homage and opened their treasure-chests, and offered him gifts… The wise men lived in turbulent times and were overwhelmed with joy in finding the new king who would rule with God’s justice and bring peace.
Out of this joy they spontaneously did two things – paid Jesus homage and opened their treasure-chests! Their gifts tell us that they were rich and powerful people, but they were not so powerful that they were too conceited to bow down before a child or too rich to think themselves above the need of saving help from God. Putting to one side the nature of their gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, let’s focus on the heart-felt response of worship and digging deep to give back from all that they held dear – their treasure.
This theme is explored in the final verse of the popular Christmas Carol, In The Bleak Mid-winter, which challenges us to think about how we respond to God’s gift of Christ Jesus. Written by poet Christina Rossetti she asks us to consider what the perfect gift for Christ is today.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Note: In The Bleak Mid-Winter (Harold Edwin Darke’s version) – sung by Winchester Cathedral Choir in 2012
It’s not wealth, livestock, or superior intellect – it will cost more than that. From the treasure chest of our lives the only possible gifts we can give is our worship and our all. To give our heart to live all of our life for Christ is both simple and difficult, but there is treasure to be found in a life given to Christ.
In returning our very life to Christ – the original gift giver – we find that the treasure we give away returns to us with interest! The joy really is found in the giving…
May God’s peace, love and joy be yours this Christmas.
Rev Hayley Richens
Associate Minister The Parish of Chandler’s Ford
on behalf of Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford
Christmas with the Parish of Chandler’s Ford
Link: Parish of Chandler’s Ford
Christmas with Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church
Link: Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church
Leave a Reply