by Bill Tilney

A wise man, by definition, is one who is informed, possesses wisdom and is discerning of what is true, right or lasting. Such is the title given to the men who traveled thousands of miles following a star, to find and worship the king of the Jews. Not much is known about these astrologers (traditionally called wise men.)

We don’t know for sure where they traveled from or how many there were. However, we do know they recognized Jesus as the Messiah prophesied in the manuscripts of old, and that Bethlehem was prophesied seven centuries earlier to be the Messiah's birthplace (Micah 5:2, NKJ).

Because these wise men possessed discernment of what was true, right and lasting, they recognized Jesus as the Messiah when most of God’s chosen people in Israel did not. When they finally found Him, they responded with joy, worship and gifts (Matt. 2:1-12). Their response was much different than the one people often have today. We expect God to come looking for us, to explain Himself, prove who He is and give us gifts. These wise men gave expensive gifts because they were worthy presents for a future king. Their gifts were symbols of Christ’s identity and spoke of what He would accomplish.

Gold was a gift given to kings. Frankincense was a gift for deity and myrrh was a spice used to anoint a body for burial. These wise men brought gifts and worshipped Jesus for who He was. This is the essence of true worship—honoring Christ for who He is and being willing to give Him what is valuable to us.

As I reflected on the account of the wise men in the Gospel of Matthew, I had several questions. Why were the shepherds, who were really not considered wise, the only people on the scene when the baby was born? Where were the religious scholars, the so-called wise men of the day? Were they so busy trying to impress others with all their knowledge, they did not seek wisdom from others? The first step in finding wisdom is being wise enough to acknowledge you’re not wise in yourself. We would rather learn our own way than trust the wisdom of others—even if that other is God.

Two years after His birth, the religious community still had not caught on that their King, the Messiah, their Lord, was living in Bethlehem. It took strangers following a star to create any interest in Jerusalem. The answer to the question of how this could be is the same for them as it is for us today. They were so caught up in the affairs of the world—the dos and don'ts—they couldn’t see the truth that came to set them free.

The wise men were a different story, and we can learn much from them. They didn't let their culture or background get in the way of seeking the King. They were Gentiles living in a culture that had nothing to do with the Jewish faith. They left everything behind to seek truth, and they found Jesus. How important is truth to you? Are you willing to sacrifice to find it?

The wise men's wisdom led them to the King to bow down and give gifts. Are you willing to give Jesus the gift of your life? Are you willing to sacrifice your time, talent and treasure to seek truth? Or do you just want to be entertained and receive for yourself?

Another thing we can learn from these wise men is obedience. The gospel story says, “…being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”(Matt. 2:12) Men of wisdom don't just seek; they obey, even when they don’t understand.

Those who are wise today still seek Him—not for what they can get from Him, but what they can give in worship for who He is and thanksgiving for what He has done. Don’t allow yourself to become so busy this Christmas Season that you leave Christ out of Christmas. He is the true Gift, and is ours for the seeking.

Pastor Bill Tilney is a father to many in the spirit. He is an author and speaker. To contact him email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .