They opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts (Matthew 2:11 NIV).

I never took much notice of the Magi in the life of Jesus until the year God was asking us to sell or give away much of what we owned to come follow Him. That year I noticed that the Magi gave their gifts from their “treasures.” It made a lasting impression on me.

It’s often easy to give away what we value little, but much more difficult to give away a treasure–something that has a lot of material or sentimental value. And yet I wonder whether the gifts that mean most to God aren’t the ones that come from our treasures―from what we, individually, value most. If we value money, the gift might include giving up a profitable job for one with less money where God is calling us; or if we value privacy, it might mean giving up some privacy to take a needy child or a troubled teenager into our home.

Only God knows what each of us value most, and only God knows whether we will be willing to “open our treasures” when He asks us to present Him with gifts.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for allowing our treasures to interfere with our obedience to you. Help us remember that opening our treasures to give you gifts guarantees an everlasting return. Amen.

(Devotional from Homespun Faith, Reflections from the Seasons of Life, copyright 2014 Daisy Beiler Townsend. Available as paperback or ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Xulon Press. There are Links on this website on the Where to Buy Homespun Faith and Sarah’s Legacy page.  Locally at Fresh Grounds, M & M Grocery, Leanna’s Books, Penn Alps in Grantsville, Maryland, or from me 724-373-8445 or donaisy@neo.rr.com.)