Sacrifice is as old as man and nature. Nature nourishes itself through sacrifice, when lower forms of existence give up their lives for the good of higher forms. When we give up what we value for the sake of others, we have made a sacrifice.
Sacrifice in the context of this article is not the act of killing or slaughtering an animal to a god as an act of propitiation or worship. It is the act of surrendering something of value for the good and betterment of others.
Sacrifice is a core principle to God and humanity. It is one of the major components of Christian life. It preaches doing what is required rather than what is beneficial. It costs the person who sacrifices for the benefit of others. It can take several forms but goes through the same path of love and concern for peoples needs.
Sacrifice is a major aspect of character formation because it is an approach that focuses on what you can do for others rather than what can be done for you. It helps to develop deep commitment, profound love, and true regard for God and humanity. It places what is valued less than what should be given. It stretches us and makes us go beyond what is difficult to let go of to what is beneficial. It helps to appreciate others and be selfless. It requires trust and maturity.
Sadly, the principles of sacrifice have been downplayed so well by individuals and families that it is affecting the progress and peace of today’s society. Mostly, youths and young adults have made bad decisions and wrong choices because selfishness has taken the place of sacrifice. They focus only on a life of ease, free from pain, not minding what others stand to lose. They take their life casually and are more concerned about themselves, their progress, and their happiness. They seldom give, love, help, contribute, feel concerned, or appreciate others. They would rather complain, grudge, and feel entitled to everything.
We need to change the narrative, especially amongst the younger ones who are less concerned about sacrifice. They need to be more mindful of giving for the good of others, to share responsibility of family and society, to realize that the needs of others are as important as their needs, to substitute hours of fun for the good of others, to give up food and treasured items for those that need them more, to share and to serve out of love not out of obligation.
The dividends of sacrifice are eternal. Helping a lonely neighbour, befriending the downtrodden, sharing possessions, and so on, make life more meaningful. This generation needs to be more disposed to the acts of self denial like doing things that are beneficial to others than self, to give more time and resources willingly, to prioritize others, to not only pray but sacrifice along, to think of the big picture than the present gain, to love family and friends and to act less entitled and be less self centered and selfish.
According to Charlie Finley, sweat plus sacrifice equals success. Truly, sacrifice is synonymous with success. True love comes with sacrifice, and true joy comes by sacrificing. It’s not a sacrifice if you get more than you give. That is an investment. Sacrifice shows devotion, commitment, and appreciation. Sacrifice is humanitarian and divine. He who makes sacrifices has a better life for himself and his children/generation. God demonstrated sacrifice to us first in 1 John 4:10, He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
BIBLE VERSE
Luke 2:24
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
PROVERB
Masters who sacrifice for servants will receive the gift of loyalty– Traditional Proverb
RIDDLE
That sacrifice in which everything was offered, the verses and chants were born, the metres were born from it, and from it, the formulas were born. what am I?
Amara Ann Unachukwu
