At the time of a Jesus’ birth there was political intrigue, racial tension, increased immorality, and expanding military might occupying everyone’s attention and conversation…
“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him…”
Paul wrote that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). There is a rabbinic saying which said that to receive a friend with a cheerful countenance and to give him nothing is better than to give him everything with a gloomy countenance…