I am a poor boy too (Advent #15)

There is no Biblical text for today's post. That's because it concerns a story that you won't find in the Bible. You may know it: a poor boy who hears of the news of his king's arrival; he has nothing to offer the king but his drum, which he plays for his king with all his heart.

I used to cringe at this song. It seemed to fit alongside "Little Donkey" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" as the least Biblical carols we sing. Then I heard the sublime Future of Forestry's version of it, and everything suddenly changed. The story, I realised, may appear nowhere in the Bible, but that seemed less relevant than what the song was about: a boy with nothing to offer but a drum, a humble drum presumably, to proclaim the coming of the King. He had no gold, frankincense or myrrh to offer; but then neither did the shepherds; neither did Simeon, who had only the wisdom of devout old age to offer the Messiah.

It also makes me think a little about worship: about how feeble and humble our offerings so often are, but how pleased God is with them. It makes me think of the King Himself, who, when declaring the constitution of His Kingdom, began with these words:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

Your spirit may have much to offer your king this year, or it may have very little. Come to Him anyway. Sing to Him out of your riches, sing to Him out of your poverty. Offer Him your finest gold, offer Him your humblest drum. All He asks is that you come to Him, and acknowledge Him as your King.