A Sacrifice Worth Making

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   Have you ever looked at the price tag of a goal—whether it’s a career milestone, a fitness target, or a relationship—and wondered, "Is the sacrifice actually worth it?" Or maybe you started something with every intention of seeing it through only to realize that the cost of doing it was not worth the sacrifices it was going to take. 

    In our modern world, we are conditioned to seek the path of least resistance. We often recoil at the word "sacrifice" because it implies loss or pain. But if we look closely at the things we value most, we realize that nothing truly beautiful comes without a cost. In fact sometimes its the sacrifices that we make it all worth it. 

    Consider the miracle of parenthood: a mother endures nine months of morning sickness and back pain, followed by the intensity of labor. Why? Because she recognizes that the child is worth the cost.

The Paul Perspective: Joy in the Cell

    The Apostle Paul understood this "worth it" principle better than most. When he wrote to the believers in Colossae, he wasn't sitting in a comfortable office; he was in a Roman prison. The food probably was not great. The sleeping conditions were less than optimal. Lets face it the Apostle Paul was not relaxing some Chateau. He had been beaten and ridiculed, yet his tone wasn't one of bitterness—it was one of excitement. He wasn't a psychopath who enjoyed pain; he simply saw that seeing people saved and discipled was worth every attack. He was willing to endure the loss of freedom that others might be freed from Sin. He was willing to endure the pain of being beaten all so that others may avoid the pain of spending an eternity in Hell. 

"...I, Paul, became a minister. I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church... Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. For I want you to know what a great struggle I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh...".- Colossians 1:23–2:5 (NKJV)

Why We Sacrifice

    In this passage, Paul reflects on his ministry to show that the Christian life is not about what makes us feel good, but about reaching others. He identifies three specific areas where our sacrifice is required:

1. For the Lost

Paul rejoiced in his sufferings because he knew they led to the salvation of others. To put this urgency into perspective:

  • In 2014, the United States spent $329 billion on fighting fires to protect communities and save lives. If we spend that much to save someone from a house fire, how much more should we sacrifice to rescue someone from the unending torment of hell?.

  • Jesus didn't think any sacrifice was too great; He died for us. So is it not a small thing to sacrifice our lives for Him, to reach those who He died for? 

  • This means we should look for every opportunity to share the gospel with others. This means we should strive to do whatever we can so that others may hear the truth of God's word. Even if it means that we will be made fun of, lose a friend or even lose our job. 

2. For the Church


Paul’s goal was to present every person "perfect" or mature in Christ.

  • Just as parents sacrifice sleep and time to help a child grow toward independence, we must sacrifice to help our brothers and sisters mature in faith. 

  • This means living by example, sharing scripture, and going out of our way to encourage one another. It means being patient with our brothers and sisters who have fallen in sin. It means to deliberately spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It means thinking of others and forgiving one another. 

3. For the Future

Paul struggled even for those who had "not seen [his] face in person".

  •  During a basement renovation at our church about a year or two ago, when we were fixing up the kitchen, a signature was found on the dry wall behind a piece of trim: the signature was that of Dick Scribner. No one knew it was there but it served as a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of those who labored before us.

  • We must be forward-thinking, willing to make changes and sacrifices that don't directly benefit us today so that the next generation has a foundation to build upon. The future generations is something that I believe is worth fighting for. To reach the next generation with the gospel truth is worth any sacrifices that we might need to make. 

The Bottom Line

    The church in America has often separated following Jesus from any real cost. But a faith that costs nothing accomplishes very little. We must be willing to deny ourselves to see others draw closer to Christ.

Think back to that initial question: Is it worth it? Paul’s life yells a resounding "Yes!" from a prison cell. Today, let’s stop asking what our faith can do for us and start asking what we can sacrifice for the sake of His Kingdom and the generations to come.

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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