Men and women sacrifice their desires and hobbies and put them on hold for their children when they become mothers and fathers. Before one has children, they don’t normally have to make such enormous sacrifices. They don’t have to wake up early on the weekends for an activity-filled day with the kids who, if not fed and kept engaged, can turn rather ornary in the blink of an eye. They don’t have to give up hobbies if they don’t want to. There are a lot of things singles are privileged with, but that doesn’t mean they don't make sacrifices in life.

The Bible is full of examples of sacrifices people make. Abraham was willing to literally sacrifice his son in order to obey God. Hannah spiritually sacrificed her son in devoting him to Lord, practically adopting out her only and beloved child as way to thank God for His blessing.

And it’s not just mothers and fathers who made sacrifices. Jeremiah obeyed God’s call to be a scourge among his people, despised, alone, rejected, and single, all in advancement of God’s will. Paul also chose this route in order to spread the Gospel.

Just because singles may not have the same familial sacrifices, they also have plenty of opportunities to live a life of sacrifice. God calls us to die to self and to sacrifice our wants and desires to serve Him. That calling may be through volunteer service once a week instead of using that free time for ourselves, or it could be a time where we serve the needs of others through a Bible study or a ministry.

Everyone is called to sacrifice. What will you give up?

Dear Lord, please forgive me for not sacrificing more of my life for You. Help me to see where I need to change and to change it. Amen.

Go deeper — Determine what you need to do to create some time in your schedule to give of yourself to others.



Tags: sacrifice 2 Corinthians 2
Photo Credit: Elaine Casap