Love is Sacrificial

I wanted to start with a little exercise.

Question. Would you consider these glasses half-full or half-empty?

I think we can all agree that the volume of water in these glasses is relatively the same.

Let’s say, in theory, we all start out in life with a glass much like these ones here, and they all have the same amount of water. The goal is to utilize that water in our lives as best as possible and maybe eventually get that water to overflow. Now as you are going through life there are things that just naturally occur especially when you let the world eat away at your heart, for simplicity I’m going to use the seven deadly sins as an example. The list of the seven deadly sins is as follows: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth and Greed. I’m going to put each one of these paper towels with their assigned names into our one cup and towards the end we will continue.

When I was going through Soldier qualifications in the Canadian Armed Forces it was easy to look at the circumstances around us during some of the training and think life sucked. To be honest most of us did start to fall into the pattern of resenting our fellow soldiers and we started to form subtle groups that were against this group or even that group. It didn’t help that the staff were trying to turn us against each other either. There was this one time when they took this particular course candidate, who most of us didn’t like, as a prisoner. They took him back to this nice warm tent, they put him in a cozy-looking chair; they put a blanket around him, and then they took it a step further and gave him a warm cup of soup, coffee, and they even gave him a donut. Then they took a picture of him and brought that picture around the trench line and asked everyone who was freezing their rear ends off what they thought of him. Some of the colourful language that was expressed about this candidate I won’t repeat.

When I think of our woes and concerns these days I can’t help but think of how insignificant our problems really are. Especially after I have seen what first responders go through, what soldiers go through, and what I have seen children go through in places like Hermosillo, Mexico. Often, we are all pulled into situations where we find discomfort, it is easy for us to look at the hardships which are being thrust on us and complain, or become discouraged. It is easy for us to turn inward and ask the question, why me? We can think of a man dying from cancer, the pain that comes along with this can be quite intense. It can be so intense that all those who come alongside him are engulfed in sorrow. Through the pain, he can still be a testimony through his rejoicing and confidence he has in Jesus Christ. We can also look at a single-income family where the dad just lost his job due to massive layoffs and market curtailments. He could turn to the bottle in self sorrow and as a result that family will lose their home and their vehicles and eventually it will fall apart, or through faith he can spend months on his knees with his family praying to God for direction. Through his God-given success, that others see, he can be a testimony to his co-workers about the faithfulness of our very real God.

As we walk through life, things are going to try to catch onto us and push us down. The enemy is going to try to imprison us and cause us to have a bitter reaction to the world around us. Though we may be in that “prison” for a little while we can still be reaching those around us for Christ. Not dragging others down with us because of our hardship but instead raising them up and glorifying God while we walk through that particularly hard time. We have a choice to make in our lives when we enter the shadows of that terrifying valley. Where do we place our trust?

One cannot help but think of what Paul went through as he was being persecuted for his beliefs. Paul gives a little bit of a list in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 NASB95

Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

The amazing thing is despite all the things Paul went through his attitude towards those around him, doesn’t change. He doesn’t look at those who are living more or less in comfort and try to guilt them. He doesn’t try to incite a rebellion towards a cause of releasing him from these torturous conditions. Instead he sends out regular invitations to participate in the Gospel. Philippians is one of these letters where we see Paul encouraging and thanking those who lived in Philippi for joining in the Gospel. We see this thanksgiving and rejoicing being played out in Philippians 1:1-11

Philippians 1:1–11 NASB95

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Imagine you are one of the individuals receiving this letter, you know everything that Paul has been going through. Every day you are praying for Paul while he is in prison, because, well… Paul needs it. You even go as far as sending someone to bring him supplies and to help Paul out.

Let’s consider for a second what a soldier might write from the front lines, they have been through what many have described as hell and back, I actually have a copy of a letter from Cpl Maxwell, his family helped start Prairie Bible College, he wrote this letter on December 11, 1918 The only hope you hear in the letter he wrote is the fact the war had ended, other than that it is recounting the horrors that they observe everyday even after the war has ended.

What about a dad who has been laid off? He might write a letter requesting help from his parents, with the promise that the money will only go to feeding his kids and not to wet his lips with another bottle.

Both these characters find themselves surrounded by trouble and despite their best efforts to portray hope in their letters, trouble is the main thing they write about.

And this is natural when people are in trouble, or under some sort of pressure or persecution thats where their focus often lies. Hope is scarce when all you can see is trouble.

But you get this letter from Paul. It doesn’t talk about how he has been praying for his release. It doesn't talk about how the people who are doing this to him are evil. It doesn’t talk about how the people who are speaking ill of him should be held accountable. But instead, this letter starts out with thanksgiving and rejoicing. Imagine as you are going through some difficulties yourself you get this letter and you know the hardships the person is enduring, and you sit down and open it expecting a certain tone, but this letter instead reminds you of the joy and thanksgiving we should find in Jesus Christ.

And let’s face it. No one would blame Paul if he responded to his circumstances with a little bit of acid in his voice. We would understand this. Think about how we would respond if someone treated us unjustly, in our own opinion. But Paul has an opposite reaction. We see this being played out in verses 15-20 where Paul says

Philippians 1:15-20

Philippians 1:15–20 NASB95

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul sees that people are proclaiming the gospel, and indeed some are proclaiming the gospel out of selfish ambition in hopes to get Paul in more trouble. However, what’s Paul’s response? He is going to rejoice, and he is going to continue to rejoice. Paul’s predicament hasn’t just affected Paul but it has encouraged others to even have the courage to speak the Gospel. We see this in verse 14

Philippians 1:14

Philippians 1:14 NLT

And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

Paul is showing us through his selfless act how imprisonments no matter the type and cost when done in a way that is indeed selfless and God honouring will turn out to be something that is of interest to others. And because of Pauls’s attitude towards his imprisonment, as he writes this letter from chains, we see that Christ has become well known throughout the whole governor’s palace. If I were to give you a spoiler to the end of this letter we see it doesn’t just end at the governor’s palace but extends to Caesar’s own household.

As you’re sitting here today, and hopefully still listening, you may be wondering how did Paul do this? How did Paul reach those who seemingly would be against him? The answer is simple. Jesus.

Paul tells us how he models his life after Jesus in chapter 2 I want to break this all down for you in bullet points.

Lets start with Philippians 2:2 -The first point is we are to be of the same mind,

-the second point is to love one another (not just any love but agape) we are to love each other unconditionally. (unconditionally doesn’t just mean you do this for me and then I can do this for you, it means that there are no conditions).

-We are to work together with one mind and purpose.

In verse three Paul continues:

-Do not be selfish (it isn’t about you or me.)

-Don’t try to impress others (it is not a miss congeniality contest)

-Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

In verse 4 he continues:

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

In verse 5 Paul ties it all back to Jesus, saying “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Verses 6-8 goes on to break down what Jesus’ attitude was.

Verse 6 shows us that Jesus did not think of equality with God as something he needed to cling to.

Verse 7 shows us that because he didn’t need to cling to his equality with God he gave up his divine privileges and rights, and instead, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

Then verse 8 we see that through Jesus giving up his rights he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Paul is pointing out it is not about you and me. To be frank, it is not about our comfort.

In fact, Paul is pointing out a very real reality that following Jesus Christ is sacrificial. Sometimes following Jesus Christ means giving up certain freedoms to be able to reach as many as possible in obedience to Jesus Christ. Sometimes following Jesus Christ literally means to pick up a cross.

Let us continue reading from Philippians 2: 9-18 picking up where Jesus died a criminal’s death, I think it’s important to remember what this sacrifice was about.

Philippians 2:9–18 NASB95

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

It is abundantly clear that grumbling and/or arguing about the situations we may find ourselves in just creates a poor image of who we are called to be in Christ. We are called to not grumble or complain, because when we avoid complaining we maintain our ability to be blameless and pure to those around us. And we maintain our ability to appear as lights in the world around us. The world around us already looks at Christians and says, “those Churches they don’t pay taxes”, or “look at those churches and their negative history”, or “mhmm I’m not surprised you call yourself a Christian, nothing but judgment.” Imagine, what our world would look like if we didn’t complain or argue about the things that clearly don’t lead to salvation. Imagine what our world would look like if we would love sacrificially, giving up our privileges and humbling ourselves to a position of service to others. Not making others fit into our checklists. As Christians, we are called to love others so unconditionally that even those who at first said they were against us, end up walking beside us and confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, and they then proclaim the gospels Good News.

If we want to be as successful as Paul was, to the point that even his sworn enemies’ own household knew who Jesus Christ was, we need to Love a little more sacrificially. Let’s look at these glasses again, as we consider the things that Paul did in his life to overflow his cup. We remember he followed Jesus and to follow Jesus we can be sure Paul had the fruits of the spirit. The thing about the fruits of the spirit is they add to our lives they don’t take away, so let’s add these rocks to this other glass. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

Now as you look at these cups you might notice the one glass with the paper towel hasn’t really changed, but the one with the rocks has definitely filled up. The thing about worldly things is they are not faithful to you, so as we take the paper towel out of this cup let’s see what happens. Now which one is more full? If I were to give you one of these cups right now, which one would interest you more? Why?

Can I say this final thing. Do not let the circumstances around you control what you allow in your life, don’t let the circumstances in your life define you as a glass half empty type of person. Instead, be like Paul who shows us through his selfless acts how imprisonments no matter the type and costs when you respond in a way that is indeed selfless and God honouring, those imprisonments will turn out to be something that is of interest to others, and then as a result that glass which was half full, will be overflowing.

Let’s Pray.