But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith…
Summary: Paul’s comment about being “poured out” makes us wonder why he sacrificed what he did.
The passage that comes to mind as I read this verse comes from Genesis. It is a brief glimpse into the life of Jacob after he has returned to the land of Canaan from Paddan Aram where he met and married his wives.
In the story, God instructs Jacob to go to Bethel and settle there (Genesis 35:1). He does, and when he arrives, he sets up a stone pillar. Then, Scripture tells us, he “poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it” (Genesis 35:14).
The stone is not his god. Instead, it is a marker, a symbol of God’s presence in Jacob’s life. I wonder if Paul looked on the church at Philippi in a similar light.
The “sacrifice and service” that is the result of the faith of the believers at Philippi stands like that rock that Jacob placed as a pillar. The “rock” at Philippi is the faith and sacrifice of the believers as they live for Christ.
When Jacob poured out the wine on the rock, it was — for all practical purposes — gone. The wine was given to the rock, but the rock did not consume it. Neither could Jacob or anyone else consume it. By giving the wine up like this, Jacob was denying himself the pleasure of drinking the wine. By pouring out his life for the Gospel, Paul did the same thing: he denied himself the pleasure of drinking in the life God had given him.
The giving up of wine, oil, or life is a sacrifice. It is the giving up of something precious to us.
The rock is a symbol of what or whom we are giving to.
Paul gave up everything most of us would consider precious.
Sacrifice is a choice. The faith of those he sacrificed for made that sacrifice worthwhile.
Application: Consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the sacrifice he inspired in all the saints.
Food for Thought: What drives believers to make sacrifices for their God?
What drives believers to make sacrifices for their God?
I think that ultimately sacrifice keeps a believer focused on God’s provision and goodness. It is denying oneself and giving to God or to others in the name of Christ. I look at the sacrifices Jesus made for us, and I think about all the “things” (time, attention, resources) one can sacrifice. Staying focused on God’s provision and goodness allows Him to overcome evil with good, either within ourselves or in the world.
Roman 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Offering our will, our bodies, and our provisions are three sacrifices that are pleasing to God. They are three things that are difficult for mankind to offer freely. When we are able to give these back to Him (for He gave them to us), we feel His peace, His protection, and His continuous provision. I think believers are driven to sacrifice because they desire to please God out of gratitude for His salvation, redemption, and restoration. We recognize His goodness, and we seek to know and do more of His good Will.
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Thank you, Chris!
Good comment! Yes — at the core we need to recognize God’s goodness. It dwarfs everything else.
I think a lot of things drive various believers to make sacrifices: Guilt, fear, feeling that their good works help their standing, love for God, love for other believers, love for the lost, a desire to make God smile, obedience.
Some on my list above are good motives and some not so much. Hopefully we all serve and give out of love, obedience and a desire for the Lord to be glorified. Perhaps a healthy fear of a holy God.
Colossians 3: 23 – 24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Matthew 22: 37 – 40: Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ d 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Thank you, Rich!
“Perhaps a healthy fear of a holy God.”
I think that sums it up rather nicely. 🙂
What drives believers to make sacrifices for their God?
As children of this world, we are self-centered beings with priority given to satisfying our own personal wants and desires. We view those around us as beings to be used to fulfill the desires of this housing of flesh which confines us.
At some point all are convicted by God, of the truth as written in John 16:8 and must make our choice. Some will choose to receive life in Christ and begin this new life seeking to serve others over themselves.
John 15:5, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Jesus Christ resides in the hearts of every believer, and as time passes, we find His desires become our desires. His power to faithfully serve our one God becomes ours, and His peace becomes ours as we remain in but not of this world. Believers receive new vision, new priorities and the power to live according to Gods Will over self.
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Ephesians 2:10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Believers do not surrender anything of real value while in reality freely receive from God, gifts beyond value. Eternal Life in the presence of God over death, and eternal darkness. Love replaces hatred and anger, purpose rather than pointlessness, and peace over turmoil.
Ron,
“Believers do not surrender anything of real value…”
This observation of yours is profound.
We feel like we are “giving up” something for God when in fact, God is drawing us into true life. What we are “giving up” is the cancer that was eating us alive.
Thank you!