At Christmas, we remember the beautiful, extraordinary display of God’s love at the arrival of the Messiah as a baby. One of my favorite childhood memories at Christmas was setting out the nativity, carefully placing each person and animal. Years later, I looked closer at the story and learned that the Magi who knelt to worship Jesus with their gifts were not actually at the manger scene. They arrived later, when Jesus was by then a young child. My nativity worldview was shattered!

We sing of them as “kings” or “wisemen”. But they were not royal officials or clergymen. They were ordinary people, people just like you, who leveraged their time, talents, and treasure to worship the Christ-child, Jesus. Their journey to follow the star and worship Jesus was one of discernment and obedience, joy and impact.

We might even call these Magi the first Goers. A Goer is most simply defined as “anyone who leaves their comfort zone to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus.” (Tithe Your Career) The Magi left their home to extend their hands toward God’s Son with gifts, travelled far as “feet of those that bring good news” (Is 52:7, Rom 10:15), and testified with their voices that Jesus is the king of the Jews!

You actually have more in common with these wisemen than you think! Goers in their Tithe Years actively leverage their career season, skills, and mobility to advance God’s kingdom globally. It’s about more than just giving; it's about going, with a specific time and purpose. So what did that look like for the Magi, and what can you learn from them about your journey as a Goer today?

Who Were the Magi?

The Magi were not from Israel; they were likely astrologers, scholars, and educated specialists. They stood among the educated elite of their day, much like college graduates today. Only about 7% of the global population holds a college degree. The Magi were the accomplished, well-informed, and highly mobile professionals of their time.

With this blessing of training and expertise, the Magi were uniquely equipped for the task God invited them to. They used the skills in their field of study to follow the star, God’s invitation to worship his Son and to tell others about his birth.

Their hearts were captured by the need to worship this newborn King, and that compelling purpose spurred them into action. 

This same desire to know God and for others to know him may lead you to be a Goer - to give the first two years of your career to God’s global work, where your gifts meet the world’s greatest need. It is who we were created to be, and it is God’s ongoing invitation today. 

These four key principles from the Magi’s example have a lot to teach us as you say yes to God’s invitation to participate in making his name known among the nations.

Discernment and Preparation

The Magi's journey wasn't impulsive. They would have observed the star, carefully interpreted its meaning, and only then begun to prepare for their journey. It was a carefully discerned decision. Their preparation would have been extensive:

• Gathering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• Readying a caravan for the long, arduous travel.
• Securing political permissions, similar to Nehemiah’s preparations before returning to Jerusalem.

This mirrors the steps for modern Goers! You learn about global opportunities, discern the place where your skills meet the greatest need, and then begin the necessary preparations: financial planning, securing visas, cross-cultural training, and logistical organization.

None of these steps are done in isolation—it is a community effort! Inviting your family, friends, and spiritual mentors into the prayers and questions of preparing to go is so needed. Plus, our experienced coaches walk with college students and young professionals through the whole discernment process. 

God is already at work in you. We are here to help you notice it, move forward with confidence, and prepare you along the way for each next yes.

Radical Obedience

Thinking about the Magi showing up with their gifts, we often focus on the gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These precious gifts represented great sacrifice. But what about the other, perhaps more significant, gifts they brought?

They brought their gifts of time, talent, and presence. They leveraged their expertise and mobility, their very "career season", to follow the star to worship the King using their specialized skills and experience.

This is the essence of tithing your career: offering all aspects of your professional life, your skills, your network, your passion, as a gift to God for His purposes.

This kind of obedience is costly. Here are some of the sacrifices:

• They spent months, possibly years, away from their home country.
• They left their comfort zone to travel far and spend time immersed in a culture that was not their own.
• They missed out on things at home while they were away
• They risked being misunderstood as they gave career years in pursuit of the one true God 

Yet, the sacrifice was worth it. What they gave up was not worth half as much as what they gained in getting to worship the Savior, God in the flesh. We are told they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (Matt 2:10)

What they gave up was not worth half as much as what they gained in getting to worship the Savior, God in the flesh.

Authentic Joy

This joy is one that would not be deterred by twists and turns on their journey. One of the most authentic parts of the Magi’s story is how things didn't go as planned.

1. They first entered the royal city and approached King Herod, naturally expecting the one born King of the Jews to be in the palace.
2. They learned a new prophecy they didn’t know before, that the King would be born in Bethlehem.
3. Their journey ended with a change of plans: they were divinely directed to return home by another route.

This experience is so true for Goers. Your expectations about your career-tithing journey will likely be different than the reality. You will learn new things about God, your calling, and yourself. And you may find that your entire life trajectory or road map is changed after your season of service.

Learning to rejoice even through the unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and inconvenient is part of being molded into people who look more like Christ. We are forever changed, and by God’s grace, we leave others changed as they witness our obedience and joy.

Your twenties can be a season of deep growth, not just career steps, and two years of service can form you for a lifetime. 

Mutual Impact

King Herod, the chief priests and scribes, Mary the Mother of Jesus, and all of Jerusalem were affected by the Magi’s arrival and desire to worship the child-king. (Matt 2:3) Their obedience, testimony, and presence made a huge impact, and they themselves were impacted, returning home rejoicing. 

When you become a Goer, your life will reflect this same truth: you will make an indelible impact for the kingdom, and your life will be changed forever. 

Giving the first two years of your career to God’s global work isn’t a detour; it’s a launchpad. Your skills meet real needs. Your faith deepens. And your yes becomes the start of a lifetime on mission, wherever God leads next.

Giving the first two years of your career to God’s global work isn’t a detour; it’s a launchpad.

Interested in taking your next step to explore tithing your career? You do not have to explore calling alone. We walk with you in it. Connect with a coach today and see how your yes can echo for eternity!