Little drummer boy

Last Sunday we sang this familiar Christmas song. It's only 3 verses and, at first glance (or listen,) sounds like a simple children's Christmas song complete with vocal percussion... pa-rum-pa-pum-pum. But maybe the song is more profound than we give it credit.

If you are familiar with the Christmas story, it is often combined with the message of the Magi as recorded in Matthew 2. Despite our Nativity sets that may suggest otherwise, most likely the kings from the East were not there on the night of our Savior's birth but rather visited the family later. January 6th on the Christian calendar celebrates Epiphany which, in part, marks the day when the wise men came bearing gifts and to worship Jesus. Our Bible only records this event in Matthew's gospel...the other gospels remain silent about it. The Matthew account does not, however, ever indicate how many of these eastern visitors came. Because the story does mention three gifts...gold, frankincense and myrrh, tradition holds that there were three priests or kings or wise men that came to see Jesus.

Gold...frankincense and myrrh...all valuable commodities in Biblical times. Gold has always been valuable...today it sells for over $1700 per ounce. Frankincense (also known as olibanum) is a resin that comes from the Boswellia tree and was used in Hebrew ritual at the altar of incense. Not necessarily highly valuable in monetary terms, it was valued due to its use in the temple. Myrrh is also a resin that was also used as incense in Jewish ritual. During the time of Jesus it would have been as valuable per ounce as gold. I doubt these men from afar would have traveled such a distance carrying gifts of little value, particularly if the amounts of the three gifts were substantial. It is suggested that the gifts provided the monetary resources that Joseph and Mary needed when they fled to Egypt with their newborn son to get away from King Herod.

What gifts do we give to Jesus? The men from the East brought a valuable bounty. Even though scripture never records a visiting young musician, the song suggests that the young boy with the drum didn't have anything of any value to give...or did he? He had no wealth but he had an ability...a talent...a gift. So he gave what he had and I'm sure his pa-rum-pa-pum-pum was the best he ever played. Do you identify yourself more with the Magi or the young drummer? Or maybe neither? Maybe this Christmas the first gift we need to think about is what we are giving to Jesus. Oh, I don't mean what we may be putting in the offering plate or the red Salvation Army kettles or the Toys for Tots boxes or the Empty Stocking fund (all good and worthy things to give.) I mean what gifts do we bring to Him? Are we giving our best to Him? What are we holding back? What gift, talent or ability has God blessed you with that you aren't using for Him?

Then, He smiled at me (pa-rum-pa-pum-pum)...me and my drum
Listen to the song