Gain in Sacrifice - Is sacrifice really sacrifice when you gain? - by Herman Blackie

I have a question to ask you. When you think about the word sacrifice, what comes to mind? Take a moment and ponder on the question. What do you see in your mind’s eye when the word sacrifice comes up.

Is it the thought of suffering? What about the thought of giving up something you really love or enjoyed. Do you think of Indiana Jones and the human sacrifice that took place in The Temple of Doom. Or if we go back to the era of the Old Testament and pre-Christ era, do you hear the sound of goat bleats and lamb baa’s as they are being slaughtered?

Do you think of Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac to God as a test of faith, and God being faithful to provide another sacrifice in place of Isaac?

But have we ever thought of sacrifice as gain? According to the Oxford Dictionary, sacrifice is defined as, “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” 

A sacrifice in the biblical narrative, offered to God was never a way of pleasing God. For God is in heaven and He does whatever he pleases.

And I quote Paul from Acts 17 when he spoke to the Greeks of Athens in the Argeopagus,

“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:24-25‬ 

Sacrifice is an exchange that takes place, which always benefits the one doing the exchange. Sacrifice is an exchange transaction taking place. Sacrifice is giving up something that is of value to a person, for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy!

Therein lies the mystery; seeing the value of the “something else” in light of your current possession.

Paul said in ‭‭Philippians‬ 3,

“though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:4-8‬

No amount of suffering, or sacrifice for the sake of Christ is ever a loss. You always win in Christ.

Now my next question is: If sacrifice means gain, why are we so reluctant to do it when God calls us to give something to him for exchange for something better, if we know that God has prepared good works for us to walk in?

The answer is quite easy. We do not see the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” our Lord. We have not discovered the worth there is to be found in Jesus. To call out from deep to deep the worth of knowing Christ.

““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:44-46‬

In this scripture from Matthew 13, we find something very interesting being said by Jesus. He said that the man who has found the field with the treasure, went in his joy to go and sell everything.

Again we read in Hebrews 12:2 that,

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:2‬

Finding the worth of the “something else” awakens a joy that sets your actions into motion. You are compelled by joy to sacrifice. For finding the “something else” or the treasure or the pearl is like drilling for water. Suddenly you hit the vain and water comes streaming to the surface. The same thing happens when you find the worth of knowing Christ Jesus.

When you find Jesus and discover the worth of knowing Him, awakens a joy so powerful that you would go and “sell everything” you have to get your hands on Him.

Again, the price to obtain the treasure is not out of reach. Everyone can afford it. It just cost you everything. And everyone has their “everything” to give. No one has more “everything” than another. We are equal in having “everything” to give for the sake of knowing Christ.

My prayer is to discover the all surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Be like the merchant, go and search for the fine pearl which is Christ and the joy of knowing Him.