Love and Sacrifice

I recently saw a quote that said,

“Never sacrifice for people who wouldn’t do the same for you.”

On the surface, it seems like practical and reasonable advice—until we think of Christ.

Christ did sacrifice, and not just on the cross, but during the whole of his time on earth. From the moment He entered Mary’s womb to the moment He ascended back into heaven, He faced the indignities of the incarnation, the Creator living not just with His creatures, but as one.

And for whom did He sacrifice? Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, describes it this way:

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)

John 3:16 tells us that Christ’s sacrifice stemmed from the love of God for the world, that is, the people of the whole world. It also tells us that because Christ was given, whosoever believes in Him will be saved.

This means that Christ’s sacrifice was for all, not just for those who choose to accept His gift of salvation. He willingly suffered for the whole of the human race, knowing that some would never even admit they needed the salvation His blood was purchasing on their behalf, and that others, knowing their need, would still reject His sacrifice.

It is this same sacrificial love of Christ which He expects us to show towards others:

“This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

And, in case there is any doubt that sacrificial love is what Christ had in mind, He clarifies in the next verse:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (v.13)

To love others as Christ loved us requires us to sacrifice. This is not the love the world likes to foster. If you look closely, the world’s brand of love is self-focused. It may proclaim universal kindness and acceptance, but in practice, it rejects those from whom they get no acceptance or approval in return. As the quote referenced at the beginning illustrates, the world’s love wastes no time with those it does not deem worthy.

But unlike the world’s self-centered love, the love of God does not depend on reciprocity. It stems from the fact that God loves. I John 4:11 says,

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Love and sacrifice are inseparably connected throughout the Bible. Sacrificial love, however, will look a little bit different for each person. Of course, each of us who have trusted Christ for salvation are called to love others by bearing the “fruit of the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:22) and by treating others with kindness and forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:32) The practical details of how this is done, however will be different for each person.

For a child, it might look like sharing a toy or quietly doing an unpleasant chore while her siblings argue whose turn it is to do it. For a parent, it might look like taking a deep breath and choosing to answer with patience even though your child just stepped on your very last nerve.

Loving sacrificially may mean meeting a need at church no one else wants to fill, or being available to a loved one who wakes you in the night needing to talk. It may mean quietly cleaning up a mess you didn’t make or choosing not to bear a grudge when wronged because, after all, Christ loved you that way.

Sacrificial love may mean doing things we find unpleasant or uncomfortable, but we must remember for Whom the sacrifice is really made. Galatians 6:9 gives us the encouraging reminder,

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”

There is also a joy found in the obedience of loving sacrifice which can be found nowhere else. Christ Himself connected joy with sacrificial love in John 15 when He said,

“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.”(v.11-12)

The “these things” of the previous verses link the love of God with obedience to His commands. And between the commandment of the Father and the Christ’s command to love as He loved is this statement about the fullness of joy found in obedience.

The realization recently struck me that when joy is missing in my service for Christ, it means that my focus has turned toward myself. While I perform whatever little sacrifice as unto the Lord, there is joy. When I do it out of pride (I’m always faithful to…) or simply because I have to, the task becomes a burden.

If you want joy in the midst of your sacrificial love, keep your eyes on Christ, remembering that His love is shown through sacrifice.

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2