Sacrifice = ???
The most I know about sacrifice relates to when a batter lays down a perfect bunt to advance the runner on first, or second, to the next base, while at the same time getting thrown out himself at first. I suppose we could thrown in the sacrifice fly too, but let's not quibble.
What do I really know of sacrifice? I have been a missionary for 21 years and am PERHAPS viewed by some as having made the ultimate sacrifice. Those who know me well will realize that it has not been terribly sacrificial. Without doubt, the closest thing I know of sacrifice is when we sent all three boys off to MK school in Germany while we stumbled through Russian language in Rostov on Don.
But day in and day out, what do I really know of sacrifice? Not much. When we equate sacrifice to doing without things, it seems to pale in comparison to the life that God is calling me to. To "sacrifice" a cup of coffeee a week and then give the cost of that cup to missions is not really a sacrifice at all. Is it? Hmm. Or foregoing a tv program to spend a few minutes praying for our church, that's not sacrifice. Is it? Or downsizing from a 4,500 square foot home to a 3,500 square foot home. Surely that's not sacrifice. Is it?
I am telling you, I do not think I would recognize sacrifice if it came up and bit me on the bottom. Help me out here...what SHOULD sacrifice look like? What DOES it look like to you, to our generation, to the millenials, etc. Can anybody help me here? I sense a longing to live a sacrificial life, but think I need to define my terms first.
Any thoughts?
Trent
posted by Trent @ 10:20 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Trent, I'm not sure "have I sacrificed enough?" is the right question. Obviously I can always find someone who is sacrificing more than I am, less than I am, and the comparisons come too easily. Or even not considering others, when do I "feel" like enough is enough? When I sell all my possessions and go live in the inner city? Then will I not feel guilty for having and keeping too much? I probably still will.... The questions may be more, "Why do we sacrifice? What kinds of sacrifices are pleasing to God?" and "How can I let God bring me into a place where I am most content in Him and the world ceases to have a hold on me?" Sacrifice is more heroic and pleasurable when it is big and obvious. The small deaths to self each day are as sacrificial as the big ones that you have made - giving up a dream of financial security, home-buying, and helping your sons through college (which to many of your readers would be a huge sacrifice). The small ones are unnoticed by others, and sometimes we don't even think they're very important. But they are, in the process of God purifying us, making us more like Him and more able to follow His holy paths. As we are in that position, He will ask us to sacrifice in larger ways, ways that will feel more like sacrifice, with the pain of giving something up but always, eventually, with the increase of joy that comes from being His holy and obedient child. Then the sacrifice's irrelevance is revealed, our hold on this world is loosened, and our minds are turned more toward eternity, even as we rejoice in the gifts He's given us in this world.
God is not sitting around waiting to pat you on the head for your sacrifice, or scold you for your lack thereof. He's rejoicing over you with singing, loving to see you more like Him each day.
pattie-not-mark :-)
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