Have you ever had to share or give something up that was valuable to you as a kid? Maybe a toy to a younger sibling or a classmate? In giving up and sharing whatever it was, I am sure you felt like I did– strangely empty and unfulfilled. Let’s be honest, you did not feel good about sharing immediately. In fact, you probably felt loss for a long time afterward.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16 ESV)
The writer of the Hebrews says that we should intentionally do good and share at a loss because those are sacrifices pleasing to God. There are two reasons I can think of right now which lead me to believe that the writer uses the words, “do not neglect.” First is because these acts of good and sharing are worthwhile because they cause lives to be changed and destinies altered as a result. We want to be part of life altering acts compounding on the fabric of society to institute miraculous change in Jesus’ name, it’s why we were created and saved in the first place.
Secondly, we are told not to neglect because our sacrifice, although causing a real loss for those of us who give, are not seen or perceived as such to those who receive. While it would be nice to be recognized for the real sacrifice, more often than not, these acts of sacrifice go unnoticed or underappreciated and so we tend to neglect these powerful acts of love. Do not neglect them because God witnesses them and appreciates them and their enormity. It pleases Him when we deliberately model our sacrificial behaviors after Him.
Have we been neglecting worthwhile sacrifices in our lives? What are the worthwhile sacrifices we can give?
No responses yet