The example of the three wise men teaches us to worship and give, as appropriate response to 'getting' the big, huge story of salvation that is going on at the manger when Jesus was born (Matthew 2). Bob Lupton gives a view of the wise men's gifts that can enlarge the vision of every businessperson out there, wondering if and how God values the things that you are really good at:
Nobody loves to turn a deal like a businessperson. I love to watch them congregate at restaurants, salivating more over a savory sale than their scrumptious steak. Some lean forward in undistracted intensity. Others spin humorous anecdotes designed to soften the heart as well as sales resistance. Some use warmth and charm, while others cut brusquely through the fluff to the bottom line. It’s a wonderful choreograph of cunning and competition.
What is amazing, of course, is that these wheeler-dealers end up accomplishing astonishing feats: They build skyscrapers, start banks and conceptualize never-before-thought-of products. For you who love to turn your talents in the marketplace, I have some great news!
The Christ who was born in poverty got His initial start-up capital from three wealthy businessmen. Successful and educated, these men (wise, they were called) had economic and political independence that allowed them to study religion, travel internationally, and engage in foreign investments. They researched Hebrew tradition, used their political savvy to locate the Jewish boy king and then made personal contact with Him.
The good news is that their gifts – their commerce-generated wealth – became sacred in the process. Something new happened in their transaction with the Christ child: Their medium of economic exchange (gold) was sanctified. Filthy lucre became purified. And symbols of extravagance (frankincense and myrrh) became expressions of the Divine.
Good news, you who are wise in the ways of the world. The line between the secular and the sacred has been erased. The profane is made holy. You realize what this means, don’t you? The ability to build a business is equal with the ability to preach a sermon. The skill of salesmanship has equal value with that of administering sacraments. Every talent or treasure offered to the Christ becomes sacred. There is no such thing as a non-spiritual gift – only a non-spiritual motivation that sometimes contaminates a giver.
The bottom line is this: The gift most valued by the Christ is the one most valued by you. The talents you enjoy most – those vision-casting, deal-making, product-promoting talents that churn up energy within you – those are the very gifts needed in the work of Christ’s kingdom.
Your real estate expertise is a gift as precious as gold when presented to the homeless Christ. And with your architectural talents, you may design for Him a home. For His brothers and sisters (the least of these), you may bring your gifts of merchandising and marketing and design economic innovations to feed and clothe them with dignity. You are invited to bring your most valuable assets – your talent, experience and connections – to create for the Christ a whole new technology of compassion.
Don’t reach for your billfold; it is not close enough to your heart. Don’t raise your hand to volunteer for another committee in the ecclesiastical bureaucracy; tokenism is an unfit gift. Rather, look within. What invigorates you? What causes you to wake up before dawn with a new idea spinning in your mind? What fuels your imagination, even when you are fatigued? Here is where you will find your most valued treasure. Here is where you will find a gift worthy of your Lord.
Bob Lupton, who wrote this, has deeply influenced our Missio Dei team and strategies, through his unique approaches to community redevelopment ministry in Atlanta. Check him out at www.fcsministries.org.
Impressive blog! -Arron
Posted by: rc helicopter | December 21, 2011 at 07:34 AM