Every
one of us got fascinated and carried away with these men we never saw but only
heard of. But for the 20 years of my life I had never sat down to inquired ‘why
was these men called wise men? What made them wise?
I
asked many of my friends this same question, but none was able to give me an
answer. This was always their reaction ‘I
have never even taught of it!’ ‘I don’t
really know!’ I was frustrated, yet curious. I wanted to know, and I wanted
to share my discoveries with people. So I travelled back down to 2000 years
ago, I took the holy book I began to comb every page. Eureka! I eventually hit
the answer!
Briefly,
I will humbly explore two crucial reasons why the scripture consider these men
to be wise. Before I proceed I would like to ask: What is Wisdom? What really
makes one wise? What criterion validates a wise man? What quality would earn me
the name ‘wise man’? I think the scriptures have some answers.
The origin of Wisdom
In
the words of Solomon he wrote “do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD
and depart from evil’ (1). Solomon
was adjudged the wisest man of his time. Some hitherto still claim is the
wisest man who ever lived. Solomon admonished us that there is a source of
wisdom. Wisdom is not from man. You don’t get wisdom by being or playing smart.
You don’t get wisdom by knowing how to read all the books on your shelves. You
don’t get wisdom by scoring high grades in college. Wisdom is divine, it is not
amassed, it is given. It is entrusted to man by God.
Wisdom is the
greatest gift a man can ever receive. It is the greatest pursuit a man can ever
embark on. God inquired of Solomon ‘Ask me of anything and I grant it to you’
Solomon asked for ‘wisdom to lead the Israelites’. He said ‘Do not be wise in
your own eyes….in all your getting, get wisdom” why did he say so? because “Happy
is he who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding”(2)
The
source, the origin of wisdom itself is in God! Solomon continued “For the LORD
gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” (3). He also
added that “He stores up SOUND wisdom….” (4)
I.E.
God is the storehouse of wisdom.
2Keys that made these
men wise
You
see friends; these men were not really known. The scriptures never told us of
their names, but their deeds preserved and outlived them. Posterity will never
forget these men because of their wisdom. Solomon corroborated “He (wisdom)
guards the path of justice and PRESERVE the ways of His saints” (5)
Two
things made these men wise: They were:
1.
JUST MEN:
When,
these star gazers discovered Jesus’ star. They instantly knew what the star
represented. They knew that this was not just another ‘star’ that filled the Milky
Way. Because they were spiritual, they understood that the owner of that star
was to become a GREAT king. A savior, and the most high. Matthew recorded that,
when they arrived in Jerusalem from Far East they inquired of King Herod saying:
“Where is he who has
been born KING of the Jews. For we have seen his STAR and have come to worship
him”
These
men despite the fact they knew how delicate and highly significant this star
was they willingly with a pure heart decided to celebrate it. They sojourned
all the way from the Far East, with joy in their heart, and gifts in their bosoms.
They wanted to celebrate with the new born king. They were not puffed up with jealousy;
they did not say ‘Hmmm! Who is this King, let’s go and see how ugly he is’ of ‘Let
connive to choke and becloud this star’ Rather they came merrily. Matthew
chronicled that “when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly GREAT
JOY” (6)
Unlike
your friend, Herod, the scriptures says when he “heard this he was
troubled(unhappy, restless, jealous) and ALL Jerusalem with him” If you unhappy
because your friend is doing well, if you are jealous and envious of someone’s
else’s success, you would only end up like Herod the foolish man. But if you
contribute and celebrate other people’s success, you will be wise and your name
would be preserved just like the three wise men.
PROVERBS
4:8-9
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you;
she will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament
of grace a crown of glory she will deliver to you
2.
OBEDIENT
“Then being divinely
warned in dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their
own country another way” (6)
Herod was boiling with fury and anger when he
realized that a King greater than himself was born, he tried to deceive,
no! He deceived the three wise men. He said ‘Go and search CAREFULLY for the
young Child, and when you have found Him, bring BACK word to me, that I may
COME and WORSHIP Him also”. Really, Herod’s plan was never to go and worship
the new born King, his plan was to ‘KILL Him’ (7)
But
thanks to God, they were warned never to go back. Now rack you brain a little.
What would have happened if the three wise men never obey GOD’s warning?
Imagine what would have occurred, if the 3 men had some misunderstanding and
one insisted ‘I must go back to Jerusalem, you two may go but I must go back’.
The three wise men walked with one spirit, they were coordinated and agreeable
because “can two walk together except they agree?’’(8)
If
the truth be told, those men would have ended up been FOOLISH if they never
obeyed the warnings in their dreams. They followed the voice and leading of the
Holy Spirit. Many people have been told to do one thing or the other by the
leading of the Holy Spirit, but they have not been able to obey that voice.
That one action by these unknown men earned them the name ‘The three wise men
from the east’ their name was preserved because they choose to obey God.
Solomon said in
PROVERBS 4:14-15
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evil
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn
away from it and pass on
You
too can become wise by being just, holy in heart, void of evil passions and
desire and by being obedient to the commands of God.
The path of
the just is like a shinning sun, that shines even brighter unto the perfect day!
Be
INSPIRED!
CYPRIAN UDEBUIKE
08088733350
Bible Quotes
(1)PROVERBS3:7
(2) PROVERBS3:13 (3) PROVERBS2:6 (4) PROVERBS 2:7 (5)PROVERBS2:8 (6) MATTEW2:10
(7) MATTEW2:8 (8)AMOS 3:3
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