Sacrifice (sa-krə-ˌfīs) v.
- to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy especially for an ideal, belief, or end (Webster.com)
- to forfeit (one thing) for another thing considered to be of greater value (FreeDictionary.com)
- to give something up or to sell something at a price which is less than its value (yourdictionary.com)
I think my all-time favorite definition of sacrifice is from my pastor, Craig Groeschel. He says this: Sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love more.
As a mom, I often sacrifice things I want for my sons. I sacrifice “me time” to meet their needs because I’m their momma. Other times, I have sacrificed for friends. And of course, I have sacrificed for my husband.
The thing I have learned about sacrifice is that it isn’t necessarily enjoyable or easy but it does yield a reward. The middle definition above says that you are “forfeiting one thing for another that is considered to be of greater value.” I think this is powerful. That “greater value” is key when it comes to people and especially key when it comes to God. I would MUCH RATHER be giving up something temporal for something eternal, which in my opinion, is of much greater value.
Share a time when you’ve sacrificed something and felt the pain associated with that loss.
My husband and I had been married a little over a year when I was offered a promotion at work. It would have required I travel and be gone for two to four weeks initially; then again two to three times per year after that.
My husband told me he did not believe a marriage could withstand such long periods of separation. And of course he just did not want me to go away.
Although it would have been a great opportunity for me I chose not to take the promotion. I made that sacrifice for our marital relationship. It was my desire to please my husband more than myself.
As it turns out during the time I would have been gone I got pregnant with our son. God honored my decision and blessed us!
Wow, Lisa! What a great story! Good for you for choosing your marriage over money/position. That must have been a difficult choice, but God DID honor your wise decision! That is such a great testimony to the power of God when we seek His will first. Thank you for sharing that…it really encourages me.