Sacrifice

"Sacrifice-n. Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim." ~The American Heritage® Dictionary

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Phil. 2:3 NIV

Sacrifice- Forfeiture of self for another.

This is a word I've been thinking on a lot lately. Often times I feel that since I'm not doing the wrong thing, I must be right. But there is more to repentance than then regretting and abandoning the old ways. (Luke 9:23) It's kind of like a u-turn. you must do more than just stop heading west- you have to turn around and and start heading east. One way we're called to do this is through sacrifice- a word I despise.

See sacrifice doesn't just mean doing something kind for someone else- I'm cool with that. Sacrifice means giving up something of mine(like time, or money, or opportunities)for someone else when it causes pain to me. I seem to have no trouble reading my sisters a bed time story if I have "extra time", but when it infringes on my time to read or sleep...well, I'm just too busy.

Taking up a donation? I'll check for extra change. But if it's going to cost me something, like really cost me something (like I need that money to attend a debate tournament), I'm out.

It's one thing to share your Popsicle with someone, but another to give it up entirely.

Yet not only is my attitude toward sacrifice revoltingly selfish, it's completely un-scriptural. "If anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either." (Luke 6:29b).

I think it's especially sad that I'm not willing to make sacrifices for other humans when Christ was willing to make a sacrifice for us. After all, it's hard enough to treat someone first when they are on an equal plane with you (i.e. human to human), but to give up your life, dignity, and and kingship and for someone who is so much below you seems pretty much incomprehensible to me. Christ didn't give us the extra either- it was suffering rather than charity. Surely if He could do that for me, I can give up my way (or time, or money) for someone else. Yet more often then not, I don't.

Sacrifice- God forfeiting himself for me.