“You can sing and you can pray and we can preach. But if we have not given, we have not worshiped.” When I heard my pastor friend Dr. T. Grant-Malone speak those words, I was taken by the truth. We sometimes equate worship with the music itself. Music is such a beautiful way to worship, but it never comprises the whole.
Worship drew the Magi from their homeland to find the newborn King of the Jews, Jesus. Along the way, they stopped to ask Herod, the titular King of the Jews if he knew where the new king could be found. Knowing what we know of Herod, this was not a wise thing for the wise men to say. He asked them to report back so he could worship the child as well. His later actions show he was more interested in the elimination of a rival than the adoration of a new king. The Magi, on the other hand actually worshiped Jesus. The word means they bowed down and offered him reverence. But they did not stop with the posture of humility. The Magi demonstrated their worship with generosity.
The three items, gold, frankincense, and myrrh were gifts fit for a king. They gave lavishly because God had lavishly loved in sending his Son for the whole world. I could be wrong, but I doubt that any of the Magi ever said, “If only I had that expensive gift back. I should not have given that to a baby.” Their giving completed their worship.
What can we give to God today? Christina Rosetti put it this way, “What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, give him a lamb. If I were a wise man, I’d do my part. What can I give him? Give him my heart.” Until we give, we have not worshiped at all.
