Sacrificial Giving

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect,

go, sell your possessions and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven.

Then come, follow me.”

Matthew 19:21

When most Americans think of "sacrifice," we think of giving up dessert or going without cable TV for a day.  But sacrifice is more than that.  "Sacrifice" is defined as the surrender of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.  If I look at everything God has put into my care in light of this definition, is there anything higher or more important than God and His calling on my life?  Or, putting it another way, do I love my stuff, my time or my family more than I love God?

Obedience  When God puts something on my heart, I can choose to obey, or to not obey.  The choice I make illustrates where God stands on my list of priorities.  Jesus put God first as demonstrated by His choice to obey God no matter the cost.  He was "obedient to death—
even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8b)  What am I willing to give up in order to obey God?  My reputation?  My house?  My family?  My life?

Cost  David would not give a sacrifice that didn't cost him anything. After he had foolishly taken a census of his men to know the might of his army, putting his trust not in the Lord but in the number of his troops, God punished him with a plague on his people.  Then He ordered David to go to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and build an altar to the Lord there.  When Araunah offered to give the land for the altar to him, David refused.  He said, "I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (I Chronicles 21:24b)  David knew the importance of giving a sacrifice that cost him something.  What am I willing to give that costs me something?

The Least of These  When was the last time I paid any attention to the homeless man draped across the park bench, or the eyes of the scruffy-looking child who lives up the street and is always hanging around outside, or the desperation of the drug addict who can't seem to get his life together?  Jesus taught that at the end of time, when He is sitting on his glorious throne and all the nations are gathered before Him, He will separate His sheep from the goats, or those who followed Him from those who didn't follow Him.  From among His followers, He invites them to take the inheritance, the kingdom prepared since the creation of the world.  Then He thanks them for feeding, clothing and giving Him something to drink when He was in need.  Confused, the believers' questions are answered when Jesus said, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."  (Matthew 25:40)  What am I doing to care for the forgettables: those who are easy to ignore in our society?

Love  Sacrificial giving is the idea of giving time, resources or talents that cost me something.  It is not easy, but it is a true act of love.  As Jesus taught His disciples, love is our hallmark.  He said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can look for ways to give sacrificially.

How am I ignoring those around me who need a dose of God's love?

Where am I holding on to things, or time,  that could be used by someone who needs it more than I do?

Looking For Love

Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:12-13

I think we've all seen the t-shirts, steering wheel covers, and other items emblazoned with the script, "Love Kills Slowly."  Humans have a low view of love, mostly using the word to describe a romantic passion between a man and a woman.  The pattern of this world is that I give my heart to a man. Inevitably the man will hurt me and I will die a little each time until the final blow comes when that "love" leaves me for another.  Then the process starts over, killing me slowly over time.  But if we want to know what real love is, we must look to God because God is love!  (1 John 4:8)

Undying  God's brand of love does not tear us down and kill us over time because His kind of love is perfect and holy.  Real love is not a feeling, but an unselfish concern for others and, ". . . love builds up." (I Corinthians 8:1)  When we try to love, or be loved, the human way, we will always be disappointed.  God, however, will never let us down in this same way.  I can trust Him with my heart!  The Apostle Paul understood this kind of love as evidenced by the following . "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)  God's love can be counted on!

Sacrificial  Love involves some kind of personal sacrifice because, by definition, it is other-centered.  When we love someone as Christ has loved us, that means we do whatever is in their best interest.  That could mean risking my life by running into a burning building to save a stranger, or to take the time to help my husband even when I have a million other things to do. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice by taking the punishment for our sins when He died on the cross so that our relationship with God could be restored.  

Servant-like Loving others the way God loves us means we will get dirty.  Before Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples, he performed an extraordinary act. He removed his outer garments, bent down on the floor, and washed his friends' feet.  During this time period, washing one's feet was a lowly task left to the servants.  But Jesus demonstrated a servant's heart in his willingness to lower himself to perform this act of love.

Do I look for love in all the wrong places?  I need look no further than God, who will completely fulfill my need for love, freeing me to love others the way He loves me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can love others as God has loved me. 

Where am I stingy with my time, resources and talents?

How do I elevate my desires above the needs of those God has placed around me?