Are We Prepared to Sacrifice?

Living in America, we are surrounded by riches. Many houses have multiple cars. Many houses have multiple TVs. Running water and electricity isn't a concern for the majority of Americans. There's typically a supermarket down the street or within a 5 minute drive. There are more fast food joints than you can shake a stick at. Broadband access is wide spread as is cable and satellite TV. Americans live in a land of wealth. That means American Christians do, too. And that wealth can be our downfall. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus told his disciples the following:

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. - Mark 4:18-19, NIV

That deceitfulness of wealth isn't something Americans like to talk about. We don't like the idea of being deceived. So we deceive ourselves into thinking that this line isn't in the Bible. We could read over the parable of the Sower many, many times and miss it each time. However, it's there and its lesson is reinforced in the next chapter of Mark.

Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. - Mark 5:14-17, NIV

Jesus had exorcised the demons from a man who came running at him from a cemetery. The supernatural strength of this man due to the many possessions he was suffering from meant he couldn't be chained up or subdued. Yet the pain of the possessions must have been so great or so twisted that the Bible tells us he would scream out and cut himself (v. 4).

Jesus cast out the demons into a herd of pigs. This surely angered those who owned and tended the pigs. It angered them because they couldn't comprehend and appreciate the great miracle Jesus had just performed: the exorcism of many demons out a man. They could only think of the money lost. When other people get a look at the man they are afraid. Gone is the raving man of super strength and in his place is a calm man who has regained his sanity. It's understandable for the people to be afraid. After all, this isn't something they were accustomed to seeing. But then something interesting happens.

The people who had seen the miracle explained to the others what had happened. Then they told about the pigs. And then everyone began asking Jesus to leave town. Jesus performs a miracle and helps a man no one else had been able to help and he's told to go away! Why would they do such a thing? Could it have been because of the loss of the pigs? After all, after the demons went into the pigs, they ran off into a lake and were all drowned.

The pigs represented a sacrifice. The pigs certainly had value. But a sacrifice is when something valuable is given up for something of greater value. A herd of pigs for the returned health and sanity of a man tormented by demons would definitely be a sacrifice. But it appears that the people weren't ready to offer such sacrifices. Are we?

Ministry takes sacrifice. It takes time and money. It takes effort and passion. In order to reach the lost, disciple the saved, and touch the lives of the less fortunate, it means Christians have to give of themselves. It means more than sitting in a pew on Sunday and coming to dinner on Wednesday. It means volunteering to help with Sunday School or visitation. It means serving as a helping hand during a church work day. It means deciding to sacrifice that big steak dinner to put a few extra dollars into an offering for a missionary. It also means taking the time to open the Bible each day, read it, and think about what it says. And it means going to God in prayer, building on a relationship with Him. There are quite a few people who get this. Unfortunately, there are many more who do not.

Be encouraged, for every sacrifice God calls you to is worth it. Be encouraged, for earthly things matter not in Heaven. Be encouraged, for God is faithful. Be encouraged, and give of your resources as God calls you to do so. Be encouraged, for such a demonstration of faith, whether it's money, time, passion, prayer, effort, or all of the above, is something God looks upon with favor. Be encouraged, for the ultimate sacrifice of all has already been performed: God dying for man. Be encouraged, and find your place in service today.