Giving Up in Order to Gain

Sacrifice always hurts, because sacrifice requires that we lose something.

We don't like losing things. If our flesh had its way, we would always hang on to our time and treasures. We would only accumulate -- gaining, gaining, gaining until we die. 

This is just greed, is it not? Greed can be defined as the insatiable thirst for more, or the never-ending desire for the next thing. We thirst and desire because we tell ourselves (or have been told) that it will satisfy. But this, of course, is deception. Sometimes we know it, and pursue it anyway.

The alternative to greed is contentment. This contentment can exist in much or in little (see Philippians 4:10-14). For this Christian, this must mean contentment with God's will for us as we seek to give, and to serve others. It's the repeated call of God in His Word:

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17

The application of these passages can only take place when we have servants' hearts. When we're on mission as slaves, we don't count ourselves or our wants as most important; instead, we prioritize others. It's a hard calling, but it's the mission our Lord has given us. May we fulfill it together by faith!