SACRIFICE

In this season of Advent, as we reflect on Jesus Christ being born in the flesh as a baby, let us consider Jesus’ first coming from the perspective of His great sacrifice for you and for me. The Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in it entered into his own creation, leaving the glory He had with the Father before the world began, entering into humanity to give His very life as a ransom for us, so that by His sacrifice we now have the opportunity to be saved from the wages of our sins. Jesus patiently and unjustly endured pain and suffering to the point of death on the cross—for you and for me (see Ephesians 5:1-2 and 1 John 4:10).

The Christian walk, the way of Jesus, is one of sacrifice—sacrificial living, sacrificial loving, and sacrificial giving. We read in Matthew 16:24 (CSB), ”Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.’” And then in Romans 12:1 (CSB), ”Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” There is sacrifice in the mortification process of dying to sin (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5) and in the sanctification process where the Holy Spirit molds us into Christlikeness (see also Proverbs 3:11-12).

This is not prosperity gospel! Instead, this is sacrificing now for eternal reward; short term pain, long term gain. People who manage their finances well, save or invest money, or who start a business understand the concept of short term pain, long term gain. Athletes who are training in such a way as to win the prize understand short term pain, long term gain. Diligent students striving to be their best understand short term pain, long term gain. In Romans 8:18 (CSB), Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.”

There are biblical examples besides Jesus in the area of sacrifice, such as Abraham being willing to leave everything to obey the Lord or to sacrifice Isaac, and the Apostle Paul who sacrificed much in the proclamation of the gospel. But to bring it home, let us look at two specific ways we are called to live sacrificially, first for those among us who are spouses and secondly for everyone who is part of the Church.

First, spouses are called to sacrificially love each other. I think many women understand this as they live lives characterized by sacrificially serving their spouse and children, often without the help, gratitude, or recognition they deserve. On the other hand, I am not convinced that most men really understand this yet. Guys, when we grasp the idea of intentionally living out each day eager to find every possible way to sacrificially love our wives, I’m telling you it is a game changer. See Ephesians 5:25-30. Men, how are we to love our wives? Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Loving is not just going to work to pay the bills and letting our wives tag along with the things we enjoy. If you are not giving yourself for your wife, being a life-long student of your wife to really know her (her likes and dislikes, her love languages, her hopes and dreams), embracing and growing in each characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), if you are not regularly seeking out ways to be romantic towards your wife, and if you are not yet tenderly caring for your wife sacrificially, I implore you to start today.

Secondly, we the Church are called to love one another and meet each other's needs. That involves sacrificially giving of our time, our energy, and our finances. Folks, this is not easy street. It means rooting out the selfishness that is within our nature to be Jesus to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to love one another and lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ (John 15:12-13, Ephesians 5:2, 1 John 3:16-18), serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13-14), seek the good of others instead of our own good (1 Corinthians 10:24, 33), give greater honor to the less honorable (1 Corinthians 12:24-26) and associate with the lowly (Romans 12:16), not showing favoritism towards those who are rich (James 2:1-9), build up the church (1 Corinthians 14:12), and give financially to support those in need (2 Corinthians 8:1-15).

Although we are called to live sacrificially, there is joy in the sacrifice and deep meaning in this way of life compared with the empty life of entertainment and selfish living that is promoted by the world. Paul tells us that Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). And I love Jim Elliot’s quote, “He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” To live this way, we must be in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can be replenished as we pour ourselves out (Acts 13:52, Ephesians 5;18). When we live, love, and give sacrificially, we get to experience joy and abundant life (Psalm 16:11, Proverbs 22:9, Luke 6:38, John 10:10) as we radiate Jesus towards others. May we each choose this way of living and one day get to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 5:21).