Sacrifice? Or Joyful Exchange?

By Fred Wikoff

There was a time when to sacrifice meant the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or humans to God or some other entity as an act of worship or appeasement. But through the years the public definition of sacrifice has changed so drastically that today the word is used in most everyway imaginable.
We sacrifice so our kids can go to summer camp, be in little league, and attend college. In baseball we bunt or hit a sacrifice fly ball so another player can score or advance to another base. In politics we have sacrificial lambs that take the blame for politically damaging allegations or discretions so someone considered more valuable to the party can escape judgment.

Even Christians, who regularly observe Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by partaking in the Lords Supper, freely use the word in its broadest sense. For instance, it’s popular for Christian young people to “sacrifice” their spring break by spending a few days working on a mission field. Contrast this short, fun filled outing with the life of a full time missionary that has left family, friends, and the conveniences of the modern world to live and work under primal conditions year after year, and the true meaning of sacrifice becomes obvious.

But ironically, most missionaries do not view what they have given up as sacrificial. Instead they feel blessed to be chosen to serve Christ in this way, and joyfully view their austere life as a small price to pay to win lost souls. And in their service they have learned a happy truth about sacrifice: when you receive something of higher value in exchange for what you have given it’s no longer a sacrifice, but a wise and joyful exchange.

This is especially true of Christian sacrifice. It is the exchange of our old life of sin, for the gift of eternal life with Christ. Combined with faith and love this joyful exchange is the motivation behind all Christian service. It enabled Christ to endure the cross and Paul and Silas to sing while in prison. It is the “secret” source of much of the joy that Christians radiate and so puzzles the skeptics.
“How can anyone be truly joyful if they must give up so much?” They ask.

It’s a valid question. There is indeed a price to pay. Personal sacrifice is truly a central part of Christianity, not only for the missionary, but for all true believers.
Christ said: “he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38

In the process we will have unwelcome experiences and face ridicule and conflict. Satan will foster doubt and tempt us mercilessly. And you can be sure that the skeptics will always be there to question our sincerity and test our resolve at every turn. (See 1 Corinthians 1:18)

But every encounter we have with another person, skeptic or not, gives the Holy Spirit a chance to work through us to save that person’s soul. And when we see the result of the Lord working through us, no price is too high to pay, and our joy is overpowering.

We are like the man that found a hidden treasure in a field “and in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (See Matthew 13:44) Or like the merchant that found a pearl of great value and sacrificed everything he had to obtain it. (See Matthew 13:45-46)

We rejoice that Christ has chosen us as tools for revealing his truth, and in our joy, “appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon. EugeneSpud@msn.com