Making Sacrifices

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 19, 1865

Making Sacrifices.

PROFESSING Christians are sometimes heard to speak of the sacrifices which they have to make in the cause of religion. Sacrifices, forsooth! What if these persons had lived in the early age of Christianity, when to avow oneself to be the friend of Jesus Christ, subjected him to the loss of property, of liberty, and of life? Then, if they had boldly professed the Christian religion, and as a consequence had been despoiled of their goods, driven from their homes, and immured in dungeons, they might have talked of sacrifices. But now, in this nineteenth century, and in this Christian land where religion is popular, to speak of the sacrifices which they make in the cause of their Redeemer, is almost ridiculous. Do they deprive themselves of the luxuries of life, that they may have the more to give for the upbuilding of his kingdom? Do they lose the favor and patronage of valuable friends, by espousing his cause? Do they encounter the jibe and jeer of the ungodly because they are his? And do they surmount natural diffidence, and disinclination by addressing unconverted sinners on the subject of their salvation, and faithfully rebuking sin? They may, perhaps, do these things, and if they do, these are the sacrifices which they make, and of which they speak. But many do not deny themselves even so much as this.

Observes Dr. Livingston, the English missionary, and explorer of Africa, who, like the apostle Paul, for the love he bears to Jesus, has been "in perils of water, in perils of robbers," in perils of wild beasts and wild men, and been subjected to privations of the severest kind: "Nought that I have endured do I regard in the light of sacrifices, for I do not think that word ought ever to be applied to anything we can do for Him who came down from Heaven and died for us." And yet if some persons abstain from sensual gratifications, pomps, and vanities, give a tenth of their earnings to the Lord—attend church all day on a stormy or sultry Sabbath, and appropriate one evening during the week to religious services—we hear them speaking of "the sacrifices which they make!"

Do we expect to reach Heaven without making any sacrifices? "Shall we be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease?" What says the Master? "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me." "He that loveth his life shall lose it."