Poor and Rich by Choice!
Every year we celebrate Independence Day with our hearts, minds, and bodies. We fly flags. We listen to patriotic music. We remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we now enjoy. And we should because people all over the world would be willing to pay a hefty sum to have some of those freedoms for themselves.
But, now let’s think about the Lord’s Church. It, too, represents freedom. It, too, was paid for at a great price. It, too, is far more valuable than anything this world has to offer (Matthew 16:26). So, what am I willing to sacrifice for her?
All who are paid to do a job (and are good workers) are willing to spend long hours doing the job. They are willing to work hard and sacrifice for that job and the next promotion or pay increase. The immediate rewards that come from a job well done are pay enough to keep us doing the job.
The Richmond church of Christ (or the church you assemble with) is an organization that deserves our sacrifice and service. She deserves it not because of any human factor, but because of the divine factor. She represents God in this place. Her influence is dependent on each one of us. Her survival is dependent on each one of us.
A sacrificial person is poor, in some respects, because of the choice to be sacrificial. The sacrifice of treasures means that there are some things of this world that we will not have or get because of our sacrifice. The sacrifice of time means that there is time taken away from some of the things we like to do at the time we would like to do them. The sacrifice of talents means that I will use them to benefit others instead of only benefiting myself.
Jesus’ words ring loudly with respect to these things. “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33). This statement comes at the end of a discussion in verses 25-32 where He specified the necessity of sacrificing my treasures. “If anyone comes after Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (verse 26).
Jesus specified the necessity of sacrificing my time. “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (verse 27). Cross-bearing is a daily task that affects all of my time.
Jesus specified the necessity of sacrificing my talents. He referred to someone who intended to build a tower and to a king going to war. His words revealed the fruitlessness of using talent to overcome a challenge without first considering the cost (v. 27-32). We can use our talents for personal gain without ever considering the eternal consequences, only to realize how fruitless was that pursuit.
Now, consider the rest of the story as a famous newscaster always said. Sacrifice not only makes us poor because of the choice, it also makes us rich because of the same choice! “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, which we do not look at the things what are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18).
Sacrifice is giving up things that are perishing anyway for things that will not perish ever! Here is the real question to consider. If we are called to sacrifice things that will perish anyway, is it really a sacrifice? I’m just asking—you and me!
— Mike Johnson
