After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-11, NIV
- Henry’s classic story, “The Gift of the Magi,” captures the heart behind giving in a beautiful, unexpected way. He calls the treasures brought by the biblical Magi “wise” and suggests that these wise men were, in a sense, the founders of generous giving. His short story reflects this same spirit of sacrificial love.
The story opens with Della counting her savings—only $1.87. She longs to buy her husband Jim a gift worthy of his most prized possession: a family heirloom watch. Though poor, Jim and Della deeply love one another and are determined to give meaningful Christmas gifts. Della’s greatest physical beauty is her long, brown hair, and in an act of sacrifice, she sells it for twenty dollars to buy Jim a fine watch chain. Unbeknownst to her, Jim has sold his watch to buy Della a set of tortoiseshell combs for her beautiful hair.
When they exchange gifts that evening, their sacrifices seem impractical—almost foolish. Yet O. Henry ends the story with this powerful reflection:
“But in a last word to the wise of these days, let it be said that of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest. They are the Magi.”
We rarely think of the Magi’s gifts in terms of sacrifice. After all, we imagine them as wealthy men bringing treasures from overflowing coffers. But perhaps their true sacrifice wasn’t the gifts at all. But rather, it was the long, dangerous journey they willingly undertook. They traveled across unfamiliar lands, facing thieves, exhaustion, and uncertainty with one purpose: to find the newborn King of Kings and worship Him.
As the December rush fills our classrooms and our schedules, we too are invited to offer gifts of sacrifice—love, patience, kindness, and compassion. When we extend grace to our students, support to our colleagues, encouragement to administrators, and love to our families, we are offering our own treasures to Jesus. These acts of love become our worship to the One born in Bethlehem.
May we be counted among “the wise of these days.”
May it be said of us that we, too, are the Magi.
Heavenly Father, we bring our worship before You this Christmas. Help us to share Your love with all those You place in our paths. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Copyright Kathleen White.
Kathleen White is a retired 5th-grade teacher who resides in upstate New York. She currently serves as a school board member at a local Christian school and serves as a teacher mentor for new teachers.
