Stress Test Devotional May 4
May 04, 2024
THE WISE WAY: STRATEGIC GENEROSITY
MATTHEW 2:11
The wise men were gift givers. They brought treasure chests and gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus. Gold is still a very valuable commodity, commanding many dollars per ounce. Frankincense and myrrh are spices. In a world without currencies or banks, rare spices were a form of portable cash, since other valuable things that could be traded were bulky. Spices remained incredibly valuable, incidentally, until recently. Our continent was discovered by explorers seeking a water route to gather them from India. The wise men's gifts were crucial for the holy family, since they had to flee into the foreign land of Egypt to escape Herod's infanticide, and they had few resources. Wise Christians are generous in wise ways. In particular, investments in human lives yield ongoing results that can multiply. Prayerful, powerful Kingdom building efforts merit support. The Messiah is still saving and changing lives. The wise men never made a better investment. When it comes to resources, random acts of kindness are not enough!
Is your generosity wise?
How can you tell?
FAMILY TIME: What is your best ever investment?
