The past two weeks at Living Word Community Church have had some powerful messages entitled "The Cost of Following". Last week Pastor Brian challenged us with 'Cost of Following Jesus' and this week Pastor Steve talked about the 'Cost of Love'. It sure sounded a lot like the Men's Fraternity material "Living At Work and Home". The theme of 'Die to Self' is a strong one and as a man it is one that I am not always very good at. The two items Steve nailed to the cross that I struggle with the most are my time and my convenience. I want to control the circumstances of my giving and my sacrifice. I don't want to get stretched beyond what I think is appropriate. My attitude can go south pretty quickly and I start to feel sorry for myself, I am giving so much, sacrificing all that I am and either they want more than I want to give or don't appreciate the fact that I am giving what I am. Have you ever had those thoughts? You work hard to provide for your family and use that to justify the fact that you are tired when you get home and don't want to engage with your wife or kids. That's when your time and convenience truly become a real sacrifice. A sacrifice for others like Pastor Brian preached, a sacrifice, an inconvenience, a bother, a pain and yet isn't God calling us to do that for others. It really isn't about me, it IS about my family, my wife and others around me.
Think about it. How are you sacrificing and is it a grudging sacrifice or a willing sacrifice?
