Living water in the desert

I would imagine each of us has made sacrifices for others. It may have been for our spouse, our children, our parents, our siblings, etc… When it is people we care about, we tend not to mind as much. What about those who are just friends or acquaintances? Or those who are in your church family? What about people who aren’t even saved? What about people you don’t like or get along with?

Sometimes the sacrifices we make are not difficult. But sometimes they can be one of the hardest things you do. What do we do when the sacrifice we may be called upon to make is not something we want to do or believe we should have to? Especially when it involves unsaved people. There were several things we learned from Chapter 9.

First, we need to remember that as followers of Christ, we are servants. This means we are called to a life of serving others. A life of serving others will involve sacrifice. If we can get this firmly established in our thinking, sacrificing for the sake of others will become easier.

Second, think about Paul. Paul’s life was to go around and share the gospel from city to city. As an Apostle, he had a right to be supported financially, but he chose to forgo that right because he never wanted an unsaved person to say he was doing it for the money. When Paul reached out to his fellow Jews to tell them about Jesus, he would observe Jewish tradition and Jewish law. Not because he had to but because he knew if he did not, they would not listen to him. Paul was always thinking about how his actions might further the gospel. If we will think as Paul did, it will become easier to make sacrifices.

Thirdly, Paul was always mindful of what awaited him when He would go to be with Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul said the following:
Verse 24 - “Run in such a way as to get the prize”
Verse 25 - “we do it to get a crown that will last forever”
Verse 27 – “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Paul understood that no sacrifice he might ever make will ever come close to the rewards he would receive. If you could ask Paul now – “Paul, was it all worth it?” He would undoubtedly say – “more than you could imagine”. If we are willing to make sacrifices for the right reasons and with a right heart, our rewards will be great. If we will remember that, sacrificing for others will become easier.