Sacrifice

Good Morning,

Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Well, we find ourselves, thankfully, living through another "holiday season" where the lights will be lit, the tables set abundantly, and the celebrations will go on...for some. We also find ourselves in the season where we see those in need who will not celebrate very much, won't have a lot on the table, and will not be lighting any festive lights. This is also the season where we see many asking for help and where the providing of that help must come from those of us who are willing to see beyond ourselves and see into the lives of who don't have much, if anything.

So, we read this short verse of Scripture which seems so very appropriate during this holiday time. We are reminded that we are not to be forgetful in doing good to and for those around us, most especially those who need whatever good we can do. We are also reminded that we aren't to forget sharing materially, as well as spiritually, with others. Again, of course, our sharing should start with the less fortunate and those in real need.

Now, something that I've looked over, at least I've not noticed as I probably should have, is that the writer of Hebrews uses a phrase, a word, that we don't see associated with the doing good and sharing that we know we should do. He writes, "...for with such SACRIFICES God is pleased." (Obviously the emphasis here is mine.) "Such sacrifices..." I guess what I read in this, what I hear in my head is that it is sacrificial helping and sharing that is what God truly smiles down upon. Oh, it's easy for us to take a dollar out of our pocket and give it to the guy with the sign at the intersection. It's pretty easy for many to write a check for a hundred dollars or so and give it to the Rescue Mission or some other charity that helps the homeless. For some it's even very easy to give a thousand dollars or more to this or that needy group who will help the hungry. And, of course, this "easy" stuff can be listed on and on, in many ways.

But, how much of what good we do or that which we share is sacrificial in nature? Think about that for a minute, if you will. Now, let's think about this. How pleased is God with us for our sacrifice in this area of going good and sharing? I guess if the sacrifices are pleasing to God, then that which isn't much of a sacrifice probably isn't all that pleasing to Him. You think? Okay, now that I've opened this can of worms, I have to look inwardly and see where I've fallen short of the "sacrifice" part of this verse of Scripture. I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to find much "sacrifice" in my doing or sharing. Even on a fixed income and with very limited finances, I'm pretty sure that my sharing could be quite a bit more of a sacrifice than what I've done. How about you? I'm also more than just "pretty sure" that the doing of good that I've done and plan on doing could go far beyond what's in my mind and what I've done to this point. Um, how about you?

God is telling me, at least me as an individual for sure, that if I want to be truly obedient to His leading and to His words that I read in my Bible, well then, I have to do a bit more. If I wish to really please God in this area of my life then I've got to sacrifice something in order to do more good and share more fully. I have to sacrifice some of my time in order to do some good, somewhere, for someone, who has a need for what I can do. I have to give up something that I might want to have, or eat, or something that I probably don't much need in order that I will be able to share that which I do have with someone who has less.

So, this is what God's saying to me today. What's He saying to you?

Love, peace, and blessings,

David

P. S. I thought I'd also share what The Message translation has to say:

Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. (Heb. 13:16 TM)