»They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh» (Matthew 2.11) 

The visit of wise men from the East has been a source of amazement for the perseverance of their search, the purity of their belief and the generosity of their gift. There are countries where more gifts are given in their memory than at Christmas time.

Like the shepherds, the wise men’s encounter with Jesus was an encounter without dialogues to be remembered, but with many lessons to be learned.

Jesus’s family was poor and only had what was essential. Even though today many families welcome their babies with an abundance of gifts, several sets of clothing, toys and comfortable bedrooms just for them, Jesus’s childhood was not like that. Ellen White tells us the gift the wise men brought was the first that was laid at the feet of Jesus (The Desire of Ages, ch. 6, p. 65). God blessed that gift. He knew it came from a sincere, hard-working heart and He multiplied the generous donation.

«He who had rained manna from heaven for Israel and had fed Elijah in the time of famine provided in a heathen land a refuge for Mary and the child Jesus. And through the gifts of the magi from a heathen country, the Lord supplied the means for the journey into Egypt and the sojourn in a land of strangers» (ibid).

I remember an old video that was played while the offerings were collected, that showed images of people sitting in church pews extending their hands to place their offering in the offering plate. Then you could see a missionary reaching different faraway lands and, in that offering plate, place the things those offerings had helped to purchase, for instance: Bibles, cleaning kits, school supplies, etc. Through that brief but powerful message, we could more easily imagine where our offerings were destined, and we could also be more aware that what doesn’t seems so great in our sight, is much more valuable in other places, and God can always multiply it and use it for what’s needed the most.

Today your encounter with Jesus consist in a few words but a gift that, even if small, when placed in His hands, will be a blessing to others later on.