What Have You Sacrificed?
Why and How to make great sacrifices
Love sounds beautiful—until it wakes you up at 2 a.m.
For the last year or so, our son has woken up in the middle of the night nearly every night. I’m the one who gets up so that my wife, Hannah, can keep sleeping. I do it so she can recover from a day full of motherhood, regulate her blood pressure, and get the sleep she needs to show up in the world the way she wants. And now, with another baby on the way, it feels even more important, because she needs rest to stay healthy to grow a new life.
Serving in this way is one of those commitments that’s easier said than done, because let’s be honest: it’s really hard. Many nights, I’d rather roll over and let someone else—anyone else—handle it. I’d rather hold onto my sleep, my energy, my independence. And yet, I get up. Not because I have to, but because I love her. And this is just one way of sacrificing.
Real love isn’t just about feeling deeply for someone—it’s about what you’re willing to give up for them. Where there is great love, there will always be great sacrifice. And sacrifice is the clearest, most undeniable proof of love and devotion.
What have you sacrificed for what you love? Why does sacrifice matter? And how do we embrace it instead of resisting it? That’s our topic today on Wisdom Now: Why and How (with Ryan, wow!)
Why
… is sacrificial living so important?
To answer that question, we can look to how other admirable Christians have lived their lives. What motivates people to make great sacrifices? Especially those who give up their time, comfort, and even their lives for the sake of love, faith, or a higher calling?
For Christians, great sacrifices are born from an understanding of God’s love, His way of measuring devotion, His eternal promises, and His ownership of all things.
1. They Grasp God’s Unconditional Love
The greatest sacrifices come from the deepest gratitude. Those who recognize their own brokenness—who understand the weight of their sin and the depth of God’s mercy—respond with love and devotion. They know they owe everything to grace.
“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
—Psalm 51:16-17
“I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
—Jesus (Luke 7:47)
A life of sacrifice isn’t driven by obligation—it’s fueled by love.
2. They Embrace God’s Relational Economy
God measures love and devotion not by the size of the gift, but by the size of the sacrifice. In His economy, the widow’s two small coins outweighed the riches of the wealthy.
”…This poor widow has put in more than all the others.”
—Jesus (Luke 21:3)
True sacrifice is not about how much we give, but how much we’re willing to give up.
3. They Trust God’s Eternal Goodness
Sacrifice is easier when we trust that what we gain is greater than what we lose. Sacrifice doesn’t earn salvation but it definitely affects your relationship with the material world, with yourself, and with God. Depending on him and leaning into a trust filled relationship with the Lord is a beautiful exchange for anything, even blessings from God, that you might want to hold on to. When you are prioritizing the good gifts from your father before a relationship with Him, you’ve got it backwards.
”…No one who has left home, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age… and in the age to come eternal life.”
—Jesus (Mark 10:29-30)
Faithful sacrifice is never in vain.
4. They Recognize God’s Sovereign Ownership
In the end, sacrifice isn’t really giving—it’s returning. Everything we have, from our time to our talents to our very breath, belongs to God. When we give, we are simply offering back what is already His.
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.”
—David (1 Chronicles 29:14)
A life of sacrifice is not a burden, but a privilege. But sacrifice, isn’t just a spiritual ideal—it’s woven into the very fabric of how love and commitment work in our everyday lives. We see this not only in Scripture but also in psychology and philosophy.
In a culture that preaches self-fulfillment above all else, sacrifice can seem like a loss. We’re told to prioritize our own happiness, protect our time, and set boundaries so we don’t burn out. But the reality is, when we only serve ourselves, our lives become smaller.
Psychologists have found that the more we invest in something, the more committed we become to it. This is known as the Investment Model of Commitment (Rusbult, 1980)—when we give up something valuable for the sake of a relationship, our love doesn’t shrink; it deepens. Sacrifice isn’t just evidence of love—it’s what strengthens it.
This is true in marriages, friendships, families, and faith. If you only love when it’s convenient, that love will stay shallow. But when you pour time, energy, and even pain into something greater than yourself, it becomes part of you.
And in a self-centered world, that kind of selflessness is radical. When you sacrifice for your community, your family, and your faith, you push back against the cultural lie that your life is just about you. You become part of something bigger.
As Marcus Aurelius put it:
“What brings no benefit to the hive brings no benefit to the bee.”
A life lived only for yourself is a small life. But a life of sacrifice—of investing deeply in the things that matter—creates meaning, strengthens and deepens the love in your existing relationships, and benefits you and your community.
How
…to embrace a life of sacrificial love
Understanding the why behind great sacrifice is important, but how do we live it out? What does it look like to embrace a life of sacrificial love?
It starts with total surrender.
1. Surrender Your Whole Life to Christ
True sacrifice begins when we offer ourselves completely to God—not just parts of our lives, but everything. Paul calls us to be “a living and holy sacrifice” (Romans 12:1), fully devoted to God’s purposes.
Are you holding anything back? Your comfort, ambitions, security? Surrender isn’t about loss—it’s about trusting that God’s plan is better than our own.
2. Grow in Loving God with Your Whole Being
Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength” (Mark 12:30). But what does that look like in daily life?
• Your Heart – What you sacrifice financially reveals what you truly treasure. Your bank statements and calendar are the clearest representations of your priorities.
• Your Mind – Renewing your mind in God’s Word shapes your thoughts and priorities. Sacrifice in this area might look like replacing doom scrolling and binge watching with reading, journaling, or calling a friend.
• Your Soul – Deep conversations with God and personal worship build intimacy with Him. Sacrifice your daily routine to God and prioritize time with him, even above sleep. Would you rather be abiding in the Spirit and tired, or going numbly through the motions while slightly less tired?
• Your Strength – Serving others in ministry is an outward expression of inner devotion. Strength can look different for everyone. How are you using your strengths for God and others?
Sacrificial love is never passive—it requires action.
Reflection & Application
If you haven’t sacrificed for something, can you truly say you love it?
Love is measured in what we are willing to give up. A relationship without sacrifice is shallow. A dream without sacrifice is just a wish. A faith without sacrifice is empty.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor who gave his life resisting Nazi Germany, put it plainly: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” He knew that following Jesus meant laying down everything—his comfort, his safety, even his life. He understood that grace is free, but discipleship is costly.
So ask yourself: What have you sacrificed for God? If the answer is “not much”, what does that reveal about the depth of your devotion?
Reflection Questions
1. What comforts or ambitions have you sacrificed for God—or are you still clinging to them?
2. Would your bank statement, your calendar, and your energy levels show evidence of a sacrificial love for God?
3. If someone examined your life, what would they say is your highest love? Would your sacrifices confirm or contradict that?
4. Are you willing to ask God what He wants you to give up for His sake, and if so, will you obey?
5. How would your life look different if you embraced sacrifice as a privilege rather than a burden?
At the end of the day, sacrifice isn’t about loss—it’s about love. It’s about proving, with your life, what truly matters to you.
So the final question remains: What will your love cost you?
Ok, I’m done. Thank you for your time! If you made it this far, comment your favorite type of paint finish. Mine is matte.
SDG
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