This is late this week because I was neither inspired to write something yesterday, nor disciplined enough to do it anyway. However, this morning on the way to work I heard a version of “The Little Drummer Boy” and it brought together some thoughts that have been swirling around in my head for the last few weeks. I am sure most of you are familiar with the story line of “The Little Drummer Boy”, but I will sum it up as far as it is relevant to this post. The drummer boy is a poor orphan child (or so I suppose) who witnesses these fabulous, mighty and wealthy people bringing expensive and rare gifts to a newborn baby. He wants to know why. When he finds out that this babe is the Messiah who will give His life to show God’s love, the drummer boy wants to offer a gift as well. But he has no gift that, in his mind, compares to these wondrous gifts given by these eminent people. When we hear the song we recognize that he is wrong, that his gift is of much more value than the gifts given out of the excess of the rich. The drummer boy gives all that he has, he plays his drum for God in the form of this baby.
     This is oh so important. God created everything that is, He does not need our stuff. What God wants from us is us. He wants us to give Him our basic selves, not because that somehow makes Him better off or more or any of the reasons we want gifts that people give us. He wants us because when we give our essence to Him, we become more and better and better off. Part of the meaning of Christmas is that God loves us so much that He made Himself helpless to spend time with us. He made Himself a baby, there is little or nothing that is more helpless and vulnerable than a human baby. It depends on others for everything.
     Back to my theme. The little drummer boy thought that what he had to offer was of little consequence, but he wanted to offer it anyway. He was right, what he had to offer was of little consequence, but, even so it was of much more consequence and value to God than the wealth given out of the excess of possessions that the wise men brought. This is not to belittle or denigrate the wise men. They saw the signs and came to worship the King of Kings, offering gifts. But God wants so much more than that. God wants us to serve Him with the gifts He has given us.
     He came to us because He loves us. He wants us to offer ourselves up to Him. He wants us to show our love for Him, by showing His love to our fellow-man. As we go prepare to celebrate the memory of His coming as a baby, are we preparing for when He will return? Are we showing His love to those around us in need? Are we seeking out ways to use that which He has given us (and not just the excess) to serve Him by helping those who are suffering or in need? The little drummer boy offered all that he thought he had to honor the new-born king. Let us offer not only all we think we have, but let us dig deep and offer all that we are.