Wisdom From the Wise Men

“Wisdom From the Wise Men”

Matthew 2:11

“When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11)

The Magi (tradition says there were three but we have no way of knowing that) who came to visit the Christ child are often called “wise men.” They were indeed wise men in their worship.

Here are five ways in which they were wise:

I. THE PROMINENCE OF WORSHIP

Matthew 2:11 “They were come.”

These men came a long distance to worship (Matthew 2:1 “From the east to Jerusalem.”).

We don’t exactly know where they came from.

Some scholars believe they may have come fr

That meant considerable effort and time.

True worship requires much effort and time.

A great effort was put out to worship Christ. Worship is not necessarily convenient. It can cost much effort and expense. However it is worth it!

Application

Do you put effort into your worship?

Takes work to have a daily walk with God.

Takes work to go to church

Takes effort to serve the Lord

Takes energy to work in a ministry.

Well I don’t have time. “You have time for what’s important to you”

Is worshipping God important to you?

Illustration

Roger Babson, an American historian, was visiting the president of Argentina about one hundred years ago when the president said to him: “You are a student of history, Will you please tell me why it is that South America, with her unlimited resources, and having been settled earlier than North America, has nevertheless made much slower progress in civilization and material prosperity?”

Mr. Babson threw the question back upon the president by saying, “Mr. President, you evidently have studied this question yourself, and I would be interested to know your answer to it.

The President replied that he thought the explanation lay in the fact that South America was settled by Spaniards who came seeking gold while North America was settled by the Pilgrim Fathers who came seeking God.

My question for you is: in your own life, are you seeking gold? Or are you seeking God?

Is God pre-eminent in your life?

Colossians 1:18 KJV - 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Transition: The wise men understood the importance of worshipping Christ even thought it took them great effort.

II. THE PLACE OF WORSHIP

Matthew 2:11 “Come into the house.”

They worshiped in the place where Christ was loved and honored.

They met the son of God in His house

Churches that deny such things as the Deity of Christ and His essentialness for salvation do not love nor honor Him and are not good places for worship, for the worship dishonors God.

Application

We need to meet God in His House

God has set up a house

Jesus is the chief cornerstone.

There is wisdom in worshipping in the House of the Lord!

Church is important!

Illustration

Dr. Al Fasol, a retired preaching professor, wrote about the true story of a man who experienced a rude awakening in church. He generally slept in church, so he dropped off like he always did, only this time a power outage left the auditorium in total darkness. The pastor did not use notes to preach and kept right on preaching.

Somewhere toward the sermon’s end, the groggy man woke up from his slumber. He rubbed his eyes but couldn’t see a thing. He heard the preacher and could feel his wife and daughter on both sides of him, but everything was pitch-black. In a state of panic he stood up and declared, “Help me, I’m blind!” Laughter filled the darkened room.

Church was not very important to this sleepy man.

Is church important to you?

III. THE PERSON TO WORSHIP

Matthew 2:11 “Worshiped him.”

The wise men knew who to worship.

They did not worship Mary (that’s Roman Catholicism)

they did not worship Joseph (that is like the cults)

they worshiped Christ.

Worshiping someone else is dishonoring to Christ.

IV. THE POSITION IN WORSHIP

Matthew 2:11 “Fell down and worshiped him.”

This speaks of humility in worship.

You will not worship well if you are arrogant and proud.

True worship acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

They humbled themselves and worshipped God.

Illustration

Humility:

Samuel Morse was born into a preacher’s home in New England just two years after George Washington was elected the first president of the United States. After finishing his education at Yale, he went to England to hone his painting skill. Upon his return to America he was recognized as a gifted artist and was soon in much demand. Morse’s first wife died while he was away from home painting in Washington, D.C. He did not receive the news until it was too late. In his heartbreak he turned away from painting and began trying to develop a means of rapid communication over great distances. This eventually led to his discovery of the telegraph.

Despite his fame and the many honors that came his way, Morse wasn’t proud or boastful. In a letter to his second wife he wrote, “The more I contemplate this great undertaking, the more I feel my own littleness, and the more I perceive the hand of God in it, and how He has assigned to various persons their duties, He being the great controller, all others His honored instruments.... Hence our dependence first of all on God, then on each other.”

When we walk in pride and are conceited regarding our talents and accomplishments, we are demonstrating that we do not understand or appreciate the role that God holds in everything we do. None of us are able to succeed in our own strength or wisdom; we should always remember it is God that makes what we do possible.

As Paul put it “what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

Samuel Morse displayed true humility.

1 Peter 5:6 KJV - 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

When we worship God, it should be a position of humility.

You are approaching the God of the universe.

V. THE PRESENTS OF WORSHIP (THE GIFTS)

Matthew 2:11 “When they opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”

Worship requires offerings.

You will not worship well if you scorn the offering plate.

The magi are a good examples of giving.

Giving is a part of worship!

A. The excellence of their giving. “Treasures.”

The wise ment gave of their best.

Israel was not to offer any sacrifice that was blemished but the prophet Malachi rebuked them because they were doing just that.

Folk like to give junk to the church and take credit for giving treasures.

Give of your best if you want to worship well.

B. The extent of their giving. “Gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

These were expensive gifts.

The magi were liberal in their giving. If you have to use a calculator to figure your offering, you are not liberal in your giving.

I’m thankful that people go above and beyond in their giving

Illustration

So far this year, the members of our church have given over $10,000 to missions

We are able to support 12 missionaries, 2 of those being new!

That wouldn’t be possible if people didn’t go above and beyond just their tithe.

C. The enabling in their giving.

“Gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

Joseph and Mary had to take the Christ child to Egypt to escape the murderous designs of Herod.

The gifts of the magi provided the wealth needed to make that expensive trip.

True worship enables the work of God to go forward.

When you give to Faith Baptist, God’s work can be done here!

Conclusion

The wise men truly were wise in their worship

We can learn from these wise men.

1. The Prominence of their worship -put in the effort

2. The Place of their worship -church

3. The Person of their worship -Jesus

4. The Position of their worship -Fell down

5. The Presents of their worship -gold, frankincense, and myrrh