"The Finest Gifts We Bring"

The Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum. 

While the legend of the little drummer boy may be entirely fictitious, there is great truth within its message.

Have you ever given this a deeper thought?  This little drummer boy wanted to come and see the Savior.  The 3 kings brought gifts of great honor, expensive gold, frankincense and myrrh.  What did this poor boy have to bring?  The only gift he had, his gift of song.  Do you suppose he felt unworthy to visit such a great king of kings with such a small gift?  His gift was his talent.

We can all learn a lesson from this story.  All of us bring something to the table when we worship the Lord on Sunday.  Some of us bring money, others bring the gift of teaching.  Some people are great with children.  Still others have a unique creativity that can make you wonder “how did they do that with THAT!?”  I have to say, sometimes we forget about the music ministry.  I have to compare them to the little drummer boy.  So often, our church worship teams come under much scrutiny and attack.  We forget that God has given them a talent and a gift as well.  Many times, musicians are called to serve the Lord, just as others are called to serve in other ways.  Sometimes, they too, feel unworthy.  And to think, they are put right up front, every Sunday, in front of an entire congregation, and expected to be everything to everybody.  We are forgetting something very important!  God first, gave these people the talents they have.  This includes a preference for a particular style of music.  He created their personality!  He then, called them to use their talent to praise HIM.   So now, who are WE to stand here and criticize what God has made and called?  Who are they playing and singing for, us or God?  Sunday morning worship in song is to sing praises and glorify God, not a feel-good concert for the congregation.

Besides, the main focus of the church is to bring others to the knowledge of the saving power of Jesus Christ.  God knows what he’s doing.  Why must we always interfere?