Sacrifice

The word “sacrifice” is very little understood in our world today. Even among professed Christians it is a strange word that does not fit into their everyday vocabulary. It goes directly against the selfish and covetous minds of the people.

The word sacrifice comes from the word “sacred”. In a special sense it refers to the service of God. It means that we voluntarily give up some desirable thing on behalf of a higher object. It is a not a true sacrifice when we give from our abundance or surplus, but to give something that we need in our daily life and the lack of it causes suffering to us, that is true sacrifice.

King Solomon sacrificed much when he built the Temple in Jerusalem. Jewish people have estimated that it would have cost today 85 billion dollars to build it. Yet there is someone else in the Bible who sacrificed more than King Solomon and it was the poor widow who cast two mites into the offering box.

“And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, Of truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all that living that she had.” Luke 21:2-4.

It was not the amount that was important, but how much the giver has left after his donation. The poor widow had nothing left while King Solomon had an abundance of riches left.
A question arises: is it necessary for salvation to sacrifice? Jesus said, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33.

To the rich young man He said, “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Matt. 19:21

How much did the disciples of Jesus sacrifice? “Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?” Matt. 19:27

Did apostle Paul make a similar sacrifice? “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Phil. 3:7-8
“And now, as in that time and as in the days of Christ’s earthly ministry, devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice should be regarded as the first requisites of acceptable service.” MYP p. 303

“To those whom He bade, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’ (Matt. 4:19), He offered no stated sum as a reward for their services. They were to share with Him in self-denial and sacrifice. Not for the wages we receive are we to labor. The motive that prompts us to work for God should have in it nothing akin to self-serving. Unselfish devotion and a spirit of sacrifice have always been and always will be the first requisite of acceptable service.” PK p. 65

“The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth and to sacrifice for God and His cause. The Angel said, ‘Think ye that any will be compelled to sacrifice? No, no. It must be a freewilling offering. It will take all to buy the field.'” EW p. 50-51

In the parable of Jesus the man had to sell all that he had in order to buy the field. Also the merchantman did the same in order to buy the goodly pearl. (Matt. 13: 44-26)

“Far greater sacrifice is needed to reach the perishing souls and none of us are so poor that we cannot make daily sacrifices for Christ.” MM p. 334

In the early days of the Adventist church people sold their properties to help the cause of God, others took on mortgages on their homes in order to raise money for the missionary work. There was a spirit of sacrifice similar to the time of the Apostles when people sold their houses and brought the money to the church.

“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:34-35

Dr. Livingstone describes in his book the dangers and privations that he met in his travels in South Africa. In the end he adds, “I do not consider these privations and hardships as sacrifice. The word sacrifice applies only to Him who came from heaven and died for us. We cannot really sacrifice because we have nothing of our own. All we have is the Lord’s already. God is compensating our sacrifices 1000 times to us. Is it then a sacrifice or is it a great privilege, a blessing and the best investment?”

By looking to Jesus and meditating on His sacrifice for us our selfishness disappears and service for Christ and sacrifice for His cause become a pleasure and delight to us. We will love Him and His cause more than our own lives even. Let us remember that no one will enter heaven without making a similar sacrifice as Jesus did for us. We sing in our gospel song, “Can we make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave His all.”

May the Lord help us to overcome our selfishness and covetousness and learn the lesson of true sacrifice.
AMEN