why do you sacrifice

Last Sunday our pastor asked us the question, "What does it look like to live sacrificially in a land of abundance?"

A few years back we had a man from Switzerland, Peter, live with us for about six months.  We will never forget his initial reaction to being in America.  Everything we did, every place we went, his eyes were wide and his reaction the same, "Everything in America is so big."  The most difficult conversation we had with him was trying to explain the English word "Stuff".  He had no reference point for accumulating unneeded objects.  And it is true, in our country we live large - big cars, big houses, big food, big, big, big.  There is so much that we truly could live without.  Material possessions are not the only things we can sacrifice, there is also our time, our energy, our talents, our relationships, our hobbies - the list goes on.  But having "stuff" isn't always bad either, you have to examine your heart. 

Social activism is very hip these days.  Do something. Just Give.  Feed 1.  We are surrounded by hip opportunities to be a part of social injustice.  And all these things are good things. But again you need to examine your heart.  

When I was a little girl, I used to listen to the music of Psalty the singing song book.  Remember those tapes?  There is one line that has always stuck with me.  "You can sing until your blue in the face, but if it's not from your heart, it's not praise."  I think the same could be said about sacrifice.  

I have been wrestling for months with something I read in Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest":
"The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment.  It is better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will (Rom 12:1-2) than it is to perform great arts of self-sacrifice."  

Here is what I have been learning.  When I am sacrificing myself to God it is worship.  I am giving Him all of me to His glory and honor.  The service, the sacrifice will flow from that and bring glory to Him and not myself.  If ever the motive is for self gain, self recognition, love and adoration of people, acceptance by others or to earn the favor of God then it is for the wrong purpose.  BUT if God calls, the Holy Spirit leads and humbly my heart sacrifices in obedience to His will then He will receive all the praise.  My heart's desire should be one of longing not for myself to be noticed but only Christ seen through me.  

In 1 Samuel 15, God tells Saul (King of Israel) to defeat the Amalekites and to destroy everything, not some things but everything.  Saul was willing to destroy what was worthless but did not destroy what was valuable.  The acclamation of the people was of more importance in his heart than obedience.  In arrogance he declares that he has done the will of the LORD.  For all apperances it did look that way, Saul declared that he was keeping the best to sacrifice to God.  BUT this is not what God asked.  It was not being obedient.  Did  Saul think he knew more than God?  Was his plan better?  Or did he do it because he would he look more favorable in the eyes of man by keeping the spoils and then publicly sacrificing them?  

Verse 22 says, "to obey is better than a sacrifice".  But Saul feared people instead of fearing God.  He even went as far to set up a monument for himself taking the glory for what God had done.  His reputation and public opinion were valued more than obedience to God.  

God desires us to be obedient to Him, to love and worship Him with our whole lives and out of that will naturally come a life of sacrifice to His glory.  

Comments

  1. friend, this is worth reposting! what a humbling reminder of where my perspective ought to be. thank you for sharing. thank you for being honest. and mostly, thank you for following Jesus.

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