Sacrificial Silence

By Patti Iverson

Everyone who knows me is well aware of the fact that I have opinions on practically everything, but no one is asking, hence, I write! It is a real sacrifice for me to shut up sometimes. I always tell my husband, “Ah, but you should hear all the things I DON”T say.” Sometimes he cares, and we’ll just forget about the times he doesn’t…

Henry Liddon said: “nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey God’s call.” God’s call sometimes is for me to just plain shut up. Ouch! I do believe the statement: “I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which costs me nothing.” Sacrifices do not have to be huge, major things. Sometimes, as “anon” wrote: “It’s silence when your words would hurt. Patience when your neighbor’s curt. It’s deafness when a scandal flows. It’s thoughtfulness for others’ woes. It’s promptness when stern duty calls. It’s courage when misfortune falls.”

Sacrifice is the opposite of selfishness. Many people conduct their lives on the cafeteria plan: “Self-service only.” Scripture tells us we are “to not just think of ourselves, but to sacrifice and do what is best for the other person.”

I could live my life totally “My way or the highway.” I could have, and know everything from faith, to prophecy, to riches, but if I don’t sacrifice myself for others it’s all worth nothing. Nothing at all, without love. Hey! That sure sounds a lot like ! Corinthians 13 to me.

This world really has a goofed up version of sacrifice.

1. There’s a very popular poster of a gleaming gold toilet as a throne. Captioned above it is the word, SACRIFICE. Beneath is “After a night of too much alcohol and spirits, Thou must kneel, embrace Thy throne, and sacrifice to the Porcelain God.”

2. There’s a Game Pro called “Sacrifice”. It’s rated” M for Mature”, with intense violence, language, and sexual themes. They call it “fantasy and strategy with offbeat humor”. It borders on the occult, and what you may sacrifice might be your soul.

3. “YOUTH MISSIONARY NEWS”: In Michigan, after a Missions Conference, a youth group from a mainstream church wanted to sacrifice their spring break. The Pastor and congregation backed them 100% so God would be glorified and they would make a difference in the lives they served. Their destination? Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Ohhhh! Sufferin’ for Jesus! They vowed to witness as they rode rides saying, “Thank God that’s over.” They promised to pray silently before meals and wear “Jars of Clay” t-shirts. They admit it will be hard giving up their Spring break at home. Did I mention the church is putting up $1200 per kid and chaperones to house them at a Disney resort, plus purchases of 6-day passes to all the parks? Aurrrrgh!

Is sacrifice doing without something, or doing something you don’t want to do? Both. In sports, team players often sacrifice. A baseball batter has to bunt so as to move the runners. He gives up his home run slam and glory. At the Tour de France a bicyclist may wish to be a front leader, but has to play the strategy game to help the team’s #1 cyclist get over the finish line first.

One Catholic said his idea of a sacrifice was being a designated driver so he and his buddies could get their friend, Ahmed, hammered on green beer for Saint Patrick’s Day. He truly believed he was acting sacrificially, and to him, he was. He was both doing without and also doing what he really didn’t want to be doing. Well, that is some sacrifice. Poor Ahmed…

Environmentalists are now all talking about how we need to give up some of our creature comforts for the whole of this God-given earth. To sacrifice water, heat, oil, pesticides and now grocery bags. Some sacrifice, others take. Can we just send more money? Some wealthy folks refuse to sacrifice or give up anything. They just pour out more money and let others do the sacrificing, simply because they can.

Ted the Clown said, “Life is too serious to take too seriously.” We sacrifice humor and sometimes reality in search for truth or what’s real, and then, in our story of life, realize we must suffer and or sacrifice one way or the other. It’s always one thing or yer muther. Sorry, couldn’t resist…J

Poor Abraham was sacrificial in a way I could never have imagined. I could not, would not sacrifice my 12-year-old son to God. Of course, I might have considered it a few times when he was a teenager… Here, Lord, YOU take him!
Jesus prepared for the ultimate sacrifice, as it was God’s will for humanity. He had to be in that desert forty days, hungry, dirty, thirsty. Am I willing to sacrifice any of my worldly comforts: my morning coffee, cushy bed, great car, or even just a good life to make this world better for the masses? Or am I a “Here am I, Lord. Send Aaron!” Sacrificing chocolate or time off just isn’t the same as it was for Jesus, sacrificing His deity for you and me.

Sacrifice is not a sign of punishment, but one of holiness and love. The sacrifice our great God requires of us is our heart, soul, and mind. In Psalms 51:16 it states: ” He desires our broken and humble spirit.” Before I can sacrifice anything to the God I love I must simply, in childlike humility give Him my heart. And so I do. Every day. Well, I’m still workin’ on the sacrificial silence part. How ‘bout you?

Patti Iverson randpi@charter.net