The Value of Sacrifice
Aug 7th, 2008 by ljkim
How much we’re willing to sacrifice without complaint shows us (and our own hearts) how much something is worth. In Genesis when Jacob worked seven years for Rachel’s father before he’d let her marry him. And it says, “they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.”
Most car lovers, upon inheriting a Ferrari, would gladly give up every Saturday to wash and wax the car taking meticulous care of it. Afterward they wouldn’t slump onto the sofa and sigh at what a grueling chore it’s been – instead a true car lover would feel satisfied, energized. Because how much we sacrifice without complaint shows us what something is worth to our own hearts.
This is why the disciples didn’t actually complain much as they walked with Jesus. It wasn’t that they had superhuman self control, and it wasn’t that they didn’t sacrifice anything, it’s because Jesus meant so much to them (even though it was nothing compared to what he would mean to them later). So ask yourself, “What does God mean to you?” The way to find out for sure is to look at how much you’re willing to sacrifice to know and follow him.
[About the photo: Not a Ferrari...it's a Lotus Elise, much smaller, quicker to wash every Saturday.]
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I got to see a great example of this today. It’s so true, and humbling to think of what God was willing to give for wretched folk like us.