Do you give gifts like the Wise Men?

We know that Gold is very valuable, and has always been valuable.

At that time, Gold was considered to be 'fit' for a King, and was the common gift for all Kings. It was usually shaped into coins or symbolic form.

Although it was given as gifts for a King, it is also noted that in this time period, it was the traditional gift to families with a newborn child to help with the financial burden.

The way Frankincense and Myrrh was collected was by simply making a cut in the tree's bark.

Once cut, it allowed the sap to flow out of the cut. After the sap dried on the tree (which took a good while), it could then be collected.

Frankincense

Frankincense is found in trees called Boswellia. They are typically located in Somalia and Saudi Arabia. The youngest trees furnish the most valuable sap. The season for gathering dried sap lasts from May till the middle of September.

The milk-like juice runs from a cut made in the bark and is allowed to harden. After about three months the sap dries into yellowish 'tears'. They are then scraped off and collected into containers or jars.

Frankincense is mixed with spices, seeds and roots to create different aromas. Traditionally, you burn a powdered form of the incense with charcoal in a censer (small metal or stone dish), or on a small stand. In many cultures, burning incense has spiritual and religious connotations which influences the design of the censer.

"They" say the name "Frankincense" was developed because the "Franks" (group of people) originally founded the incense, so they named it after themselves...hence the whole "Frank-incense" deal...

Myrrh

Commiphora is a shrub or small tree found in the desert areas of North Africa (Somalia) and the Red Sea shores of Saudi Arabia. It has tough, knotted branches.
It is collected the same way as the Frankincense would be. A cut is made in the bark of the tree, and the sap is allowed to drip from the cut.
The sap, or resin, is a pale yellow liquid, and it flows slowly from cuts in the bark. After it dries it is collected in reddish-brown lumps.

The word myrrh means 'bitter' in Arabic.

Myrrh has been used for a very long time as an ingredient for incense, perfumes, and beauty treatments. It also makes a good glue! Writings from as long as 2,700 years ago describe how myrrh also was used for embalming by the Egyptians, and also as a medicine for sores and wounds.

Because the demand for myrrh eventually became so high, and because its supply was limited, myrrh became as valuable as gold.

*Today, Myrrh is used in Mouthwash, toothpaste, and makeup.

Well, it seems as though there are quite a few answers to this question out there.
However, most of them point back to the obvious.

*It is important to note that each of the gifts would have a monetary value, as well as a prophetic value. During this time, these gifts were the very 'best' that there was to offer.

What do these signify exactly?

Gold represented His sovereign dominion = Royalty (King Jesus)

Frankincense would signify prayer or His "Priestly Office". In other words, His sinless deity as our Savior.

Myrrh would signify His suffering or His death on the cross. His sacrificial death, His purpose to die for our sins.

What better gift could someone give? Oh, other than the Gift of Salvation of course...

For all of my childhood and most of my adult-life, I have purchased gifts for friends/family that was the cheapest possible item, without much consideration for the value of the item to the recipient. I think most of us have done that.

The problem with that is even though it saves on your pocket, it kind of sends a super strong signal to the person receiving it of "I just don't care what you wanted", or "Sorry, I'm broke".
Either way you look at that, YOU turn out to be the jerk friend that gave them the worst gift.

These may strike a memory or two:

* "I would like it so she probably would too."

* "I know she said she didn't want this, but she just doesn't realize how much she is going to need this eventually."

When you are shopping for a gift be sure to remember the interests of the recipient. It is important to remind yourself of their interests instead of the cost of the items you are viewing. This can very easily be interpreted as 'greed' if you are not careful.

Greed? What do you mean? I am buying someone ELSE a present, how is that greedy??

Well, sometimes we get sidetracked when searching for gifts. We are either in a hurry, on a very small budget, or just really do not want to get that particular person a gift.
It is understandable to be on a budget for all things you spend money on. That is normal and a good way to keep your money straight. However, when you just randomly put a very small budget into effect (of let's say $5 or $10) because you are buying someone else a present, (instead of when you are making your monthly bills out), then that turns into something else. There is a difference when you only have $5 or $10 to give for someone's gift.

If you are mad or in a rush to find them something so you can just hurry up and get to where you want to go...that is where the greed sets in.
When you are just grabbing whatever fits in your budget and the first thing you see on the shelf that is in that price range...that is when the greed sets in.
When you have none of their interests in mind when purchasing their gift...that is where the greed sets in.

WHY? Because you are thinking of yourself instead of giving a few minutes of your day to make your friend/family member's special day...special.

People have forgotten the real reason (or were never taught the real reason) of what gift-giving actually entails.
When you are picking out a gift for someone, you should have that person's interest in mind. The gift is for them, not you, so don't pick them something you would like.

I am sure you have all heard most of your lives, "It is better to give than to receive".

Think of the reason you are giving the gift in the first place. You are giving the gift to someone that you care about, or that you have befriended as a sign of care or friendship. Think back on how many times you received a gift from someone and absolutely hated the gift but had to 'love' it in front of them anyway. I know, it's a lot huh?

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

In other words, what you give to others will be given back to you (not necessarily as the same item) as it was given to them. So, if you give a homeless man a buck, the blessings you receive back from that will be small just as you have given a small amount. However, if you give the homeless man $20, your blessings will obviously be quite a bit more than the small amount you were thinking of giving initially.

We should all be giving and helping each other, especially since we are all brothers and sisters. Wouldn't you help your brother, sister, mother or father? Sure you would. That is how we are each suppose to look at each other. Whether it is a complete stranger or not.

If you are constantly being selfish, you will have a selfish life, and others will be selfish to you. However, if you are being selfless, then you will see your life go in a totally different direction for the better. There is not one person I know that has ever had their life change for the worse, they have all been wonderful, overflowing, positive experiences.