The Little Drummer Boy

There is an old Christmas song called the Little Drummer Boy. And so the lyrics go “Come they told,   A new born king to see,  Our finest gifts we bring, To lay before the king, So to honor him, When we come, Little baby, I am a poor boy too, I have no gift to bring, That's fit to give our king, Shall I play for you … I played.”

A song we know and over Christmas time you might even hear it filter through the speakers in the malls and shopping centres. You know, this song as always stuck to me … it is a simple song, nothing heroic in praise or adoration, nothing grandeurs in exaltation or edification, but it is a song with such a powerful truth – WE HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE TO GOD EXCEPT OUR LIVES.

You see, the drummer boy had nothing to give fit for this king. So he did what he could – he gave his time, he gave his very best, by simply playing his drums. Yes, he was poor, because God is not moved by our wealth, riches, or offerings … He is moved by our love for Him. This song is about true intimacy and sincerity of heart.

At times, we think we please God with all kinds of clever “gifts” or through ministry, or through our praise and worship, which is all good and well, but let me tell you something in this day, what God wants us is us – he wants our affection, our fellowship and a heart that truly yearn for Him. This little drummer boy did not want to play for the new born king to be known or to receive something back; he just wanted to honour the Lord. Why do we serve Him? To honour or for self-gain?

The reality is, no matter how great we think we are, no matter what we have done in ministry, no matter how much money we have or don’t have, or our education, we HAVE NOTHING FIT TO GIVE TO THE LORD AND KING OF ALL. All that we can give is … us. The reality is, WITHOUT GOD WE ARE BUT POOR AND WRETCHED IN THIS LIFE, BLIND AND LOST. Only in God do we find our meaning and peace.

All that we can do is to but kneel.

And so God, for by Your grace there I go.

As the Church we have lost our way for we have made it about so much, except making it about God. The drummer boy had nothing to give, but he played. We have nothing to give, but our heart, and our love.

Maybe it is just time that in this world of ‘microwave’ instant results, we just need to slow things right down, and come back to the Lord and say “Lord, we are here to honour You”. Lord, help us to come back to the heart of worship – YOU.

There is a King on the throne who loves us and who has given His life so that we may come as we are before Him – so let us return to Him, give our hearts, for this life without Him means nothing and holds no value without the King of king taking His place on the throne of our hearts.

And so we cry, “For our Lord God Almighty reigns, For our Load God Almighty reigns, Holy Holy, Are You Lord God Almighty, Worthy is the Lamb … Worthy is the Lamb.”