Was it really a sacrifice?

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A couple, visiting in Korea, saw a father and his son working in a rice

paddy. The old man guided the heavy plow as the boy pulled it.

"I guess they must be very poor," the man said to the missionary who was the

couple’s guide and interpreter.

"Yes," replied the missionary. "That’s the family of Chi Nevi. When the

church was built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no

money. So they sold their ox and gave the money to the church. This spring

they are pulling the plow themselves."

After a long silence, the woman said, "That was a real sacrifice."

The missionary responded, "They do not call it a sacrifice. They are just

thankful they had an ox to sell."

When we as followers of Christ are asked to do something and we call it a sacrifice I always get a little nervous… was it really a sacrifice? 

We know scripture tells us obedience is better than sacrifice…

What I mean is - If I have a neighbor who I have been trying to share the gospel with and I find out they are in need - and I can meet that need regardless of what it is - and I in fact do meet that need - is that really sacrifice? Or am I simply being obedient to the call of Christ.

Maybe a sacrifice in that instance would be to say, not only will I meet that need, but I will help out more the next time I am able to…. I am now sacrificing because I am giving that which I do not yet have - but have promised to do so. Make sense? 

 

 

SACRIFICE

Edward Banfield (sociologist) said that societies define their values by there outlook of time and the future.   The more real the future is the more willing they are to make sacrifices today.  

That hits me between the eyes because I must remind myself that I do not know when time ends for those who I share my life with (the people at the gym, the people on my block, the people I work with, the family members who don’t know Christ) so I must be willing to sacrifice now more than ever because time is unknown in my life AS WELL AS THEIRS! 

 

SACRIFICE

Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight

This is supposed to be a true story from the time of Oliver Cromwell in

England. A young soldier had been tried in military court and sentenced to

death. He was to be shot at the "ringing of the curfew bell." His fiancée

climbed up into the bell tower several hours before curfew time and tied

herself to the bell's huge clapper. At curfew time, when only muted sounds

came out of the bell tower, Cromwell demanded to know why the bell was not

ringing. His soldiers went to investigate and found the young woman cut and

bleeding from being knocked back and forth against the great bell. They

brought her down, and, the story goes, Cromwell was so impressed with her

willingness to suffer in this way on the behalf of someone she loved that he

dismissed the soldier saying, "Curfew shall not ring tonight.” Her sacrifice was enough…

How much are you willing to sacrifice to be the gospel and to share the gospel to others?

As we head into the weekend remember what you are called to do - and don’t call it a sacrifice… and also remember what you are called to sacrifice in order to do what you are called to do. Time is almost up!