It has always amazed me to hear stories of sacrifice, especially when it is in a religious context. To think that a person would strap a bomb on themselves and ignite it to “please their god” One of the examples that has impacted me more than any other is something that used to take place here in Bolivia. Years ago families that wanted to really show their dedication and sacrifice would take their ten year old daughter to the monastery to dedicate her to the Lord. This was not a dedication like we think of today where the pastor prays over her and everyone returns home to their normal lives. This was much more of a sacrifice than that. What this meant was that their daughter was given to the Lord to be a Nun for the rest of her life. Also in this time period it was truly a great sacrifice because this meant that they would never be able to see their daughter or touch her ever again. She would be closed inside the monastery and the only contact she would be able to have with the outside world was a visit once every few months where she could talk for a few minutes although they couldn’t see each other. Can you imaging it, as your precious daughter walks in and the doors are closed and you will never again see her smiling face or feel her soft skin. The saddest part is that they thought by doing this they would be guaranteed a place in heaven. When I think of such sacrifice I am ashamed to say that I sacrifice for the Lord. Even in the average church today just being faithful is a great “sacrifice”. If someone like that was willing to sacrifice something so important to them what are we be willing to sacrifice for the Lord? Just think about what is most important to you in this life and ask, “Would I be willing to sacrifice it to the Lord?”, then you will have your answer.
How can we come to the place where we are willing to make that kind of sacrifice. I think the key is realizing a few things that are true;
1. It all belongs to the Lord anyway.
We know that everything was created by the Lord and for the Lord according to the book of Colossians, but that reality sinks in when it is our turn to sacrifice. If we can keep this principal in mind it will help us because it is always easier to give something that isn’t ours anyway.
2. The only way to keep it is to give it away.
Often we think that to have something we must keep it or guard it for ourselves, while the Bible teaches us that the opposite is true. The principal that it is more blessed to give than to receive is hard for us to understand, but if you have tried it you can testify that it is true. When we give everything we are and have to the Lord He gives us much more than we can ask or think.
3. The reward will be much greater than the sacrifice.
In the moment when we have to sacrifice something or someone dear to us we can think, “This is not fair” or “This is not worth it”, but I can tell you that one day we will be able to say that it has been worth it all. That is why my life’s verse is Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”