By Emilie Gruben.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article that was entitled ‘Can You Take on Too Much, Too Young?’ Much of it was centered around the subject of servant hearted service as younger people. Society does not pressure its youth to take on responsibilities that require lots of mental stress, physical work, or emotional endurance. Many individuals today are sheltered, rude, immature, and often left unequipped for “the real world” when the time comes for them to enter into it. Excuses are constantly made for simple selfishness and laziness. Selflessness has become a dying virtue. But when others sacrifice little, can you sacrifice too much? How do your own comparisons negatively and positively affect your views of others and self?
“Do unto others as you would want them to do for you.” The Golden Rule. Matthew 7:12. In a modern world, we praise kindness, inclusivity, diversity, and positivity. But not often do we see people seeking these things for a selfless cause. It seems to always have some backhanded benefit or ideal that can be acquired. We find people doing services to others, only for what they will be given back as a reward or exchange. But on the less negative side, we can see a fragile beauty in sacrifice. Away from public eyes, rewards, and benefits. A less rose colored-perspective. True sacrifice.
True sacrifice began at the cross. The greatest example of self-sacrifice that we could ever observe. The surrender of life and self for the rescue of the world. Nothing was expected in return when Jesus gave up His life. Scared, beaten, and broken, the Lord gave up everything. From the clothes on His back to the very life in His lungs. Sacrifice of self, even to death, is one of the very hardest things to recognize. When we talk of our purpose in life, we must be solely rooted in Christ as if nothing else exists. Martyrs for Christ are the most tragically admirable people to recognize. Sacrifice, completely devoid of self, for the glory of Christ and His Word. Sharing the Good News no matter the cost. Caring for those whom God created, when no one else will. Giving grace where all forgiveness has been forgotten.
That is the beginning of our sacrifice. The most deep and meaningful form of sacrifice. From this comes forth the smaller branches that we can express in our day to day lives. Giving your life to God comes before your service to others. It is the beginning by which grants you the means to freely offer your time, strength, emotions, and possessions to offer assistance to others. We can see this in Mk. 12:30-34. Many groups approach Christ, questioning Him and His ministry. The Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, and last the scribes. To them, Christ answers:
“‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.’ So the scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ But after that no one dared question Him.”
The beginning of sacrifice to others is a complete sacrifice of self to Jesus.
We can see that we can lose our lives, in sacrifice of the Kingdom of God, or for others. To lay one’s life down for the purpose of saving one. This can be considered “too much” while also being the highest amount of sacrifice. But by God’s grace, I hope that none of us will have to lose life in order to help others. No, more common sacrifices result in the loss of personal wellbeing. This is when sacrifice can become “too much.”
Jn. 15:9-13 reads “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Others before self is a commandment by God. To love as He loved, and give as He gave. But we cannot forget the other commandments that have been given to us. These are what we can base our sacrifice off of, if the need arises.
“You shall have no other gods before me.” When our sacrifice begins to take up our time, personality, health, and interest. Volunteer service, kindness within community and church, or even in family can become too great. When our identity is overtaken by how much we can give to others, or by what we can accomplish, it can become an idol. Even good things can become wrong when the reason for doing them is lost. When idols are mentioned, we often think of putting things on a pedestal. But this can happen in opposite ways.
“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Service can happen at any time. Many mothers will wake up in the wee hours of the night to take care of a sick child, assist another woman with the birth of a child, or some other need. You never know when a family from your church could fall ill, or a death could happen. Service to others, friend or stranger, is always appreciated and commanded by God. But doing your best to honor the reason for sacrificial love is the least we can do. Trying to keep your time centered on Christ. Whenever possible, being at a church service with Christian fellowship. Sacrifice of time and resources is good, but should not come between your personal time spent in worship with God and other Christians.
“Honor your father and your mother.” As we grow older, perhaps we do not think of asking our parents for permission or guidance as much as we would have when we were ten, or younger. As women, we are to practice submission and patience to those in authority, with discernment and honor. After submission to Christ, we are to submit to our spouse (if blessed by such an opportunity), and then to our parents. We are to seek their guidance and blessing in our choices and decisions, centering our actions and discernments upon scripture. Not all families look the same, however. And if neither a father or a mother is able to offer guidance, then honor to a mentor is a blessing. Do not let your sacrifice and service cause dishonor or disobedience to sound direction in your life
“You shall not murder.” Not the taking of one’s life, but the destruction of one. When we hold hatred or disdain for someone in our hearts, we have committed murder against them in spirit. Much the same, when we directly choose to not take care of the body given to us by God, we are disregarding this commandment. 1 Cor. 6:19, tells us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and not our own. If our service defiles that of the sacred vessel God has given us, by choice or ignorance, we have broken the commandment and not honored God, others, or ourselves in a manner of goodness. Taking care of yourself is not selfish, and does not lessen sacrifice.
“You shall not covet.” As obvious as it may seem, sacrifice must be, well…sacrifice. Again, we cannot expect things in return. Nor can we make our sacrifice a competition. ‘That person has more volunteer hours at that organization.’ ‘That person has a nicer attitude when helping with frustrating people.’ From how others serve, to what they have to serve by, or where they serve. We can find ourselves envious of others’ situations or possessions, even when they are giving them up.
We cannot half-heartedly serve. We cannot be selfish in our self-sacrifice. We must give all that we can, when it is necessary. To give our bodies as vessels of God for His glory, through our actions. Rom. 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” We are to walk in love and honor to God, before others. And others before self. There is too much service when it commences in a dishonoring of God’s commandments. So let us do our best to serve as Christ served. Nothing more, nothing less.
“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma”-Ephesians 5:2
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