According to the hymn, blessings are what we receive when we sacrifice. (See hymn number 27, "Praise to the Man")
What have you been asked to sacrifice? And are some of those things really sacrifices, or are they simply things that set us apart from the rest of the world, setting a different and higher standard? Does that "sacrifice" offer us a chance to get to know ourselves better, and the direction we are heading?
For instance:
- If a teenager waits until he/she is 16 to date, is that a sacrifice? Or is it a decision to be obedient to counsel that is given in order to bring us blessings of safety and virtue?
- If we are at a "friend function" or work meeting where liquor is served, are we sacrificing anything of importance in order to pass the drinks by and take better care of our body? Or is it simply that it may seem a sacrifice to feel ‘different' from everyone else?
- After a busy and harrowing week, there are tons of things to be done around the house and yard. Is it a sacrifice to let the lawn go, work on the car later, or weed the garden? Or is it a choice to step back from the pace of the rest of the week, allowing the Spirit to whisper to us things of eternal importance?
Just three examples are offered here, to get our minds thinking. Once we get our minds thinking, we can begin prayerful consideration of things of importance. Then our hearts may get involved to turn us in a more focused direction of our Father in Heaven.
In Luke 9:23 we read, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." In a world of "Me! Me! Me!" having the common sense and contrite heart to deny ourselves of immediate gratification can offer us the humility to follow, indeed!
What was the Savior saying? He clearly declared that "Them all" (and all of us as well) must "take up his cross daily" - remembering Him always - placing Him and his Father first always - in order to follow as a true disciple. Elder Neal A. Maxwell lovingly counseled us with these words: "When life-style takes the form of "me" and "now" rather than "us" and "always," apparent consequences are inevitable."
Do we ever really sacrifice then, as long as we are trying to follow and live righteously?
Momentary things, self-centered things, like "I want to dress in the midriff-baring tops that the other girls are wearing" are not sacrifices at all, are they? Nor are the three examples above, are they?
There are times in life when heart-rending trials come. There are sacrifices that seem to be needed in order to continually align ourselves with God. Abraham dealt with such a situation when he was directed to offer his son Isaac upon the altar. Being a very old man, he made the long trip to Mt. Moriah with his son. He took the knife, after bounding up his trusting son. Being a trusting son himself, he was willing to sacrifice whatever was needed. (See Genesis 22.) Great blessings followed Abraham- and Isaac's- faith.
Job was given over to the buffetings of Satan and had everything taken from him - everything except his character, his integrity, his obedience. Such was his faith that he could say, at a very dark hour of trial, "Though he slay me yet will I trust in him." (Job 13:15.) Great blessings followed for Job.
What are the sacrifices required of us as we race along through adolescence, jog through early adult years and middle age, stroll along through our old age? Whatever is required, it is good for us to remember the wise words of president Harold B. Lee, "I am persuaded of one great truth: Whenever the Lord has a great blessing for one of his children, he puts that son or daughter in the way to make a great sacrifice."
I do not mean to minimize the discomfort felt when found in a situation that is ugly or demeaning. Nor the concern felt when everyone else is participating in something that we are not supposed to. Nor the bother when we feel like a ‘lone ranger', afar off from the rest of the ‘hip world'. Some sacrifices are involved in taking a stand for righteousness, and following the Lord daily. In school, the workplace, in our homes, even - we may have to give up something we really want for something we really need. As life progresses, we may find that greater sacrifices are asked of us. The sacrificing of small things prepares us for the sacrifice of greater ones. We learn more about ourselves and about our character.
When we are feeling overwhelmed and as though the current sacrifice is too much to bear, perhaps there is comfort in knowing that a great blessing awaits as we humble offer up what is needed. Perhaps we can draw strength and joy from the understanding that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!
