The True Spirit of Sacrifice
Sacrifice is commendable. It is through sacrifice that man's salvation is made possible. Christ sacrificed His life to save lives forfeited by sin. He died, the Just for the unjust. Such a sacrifice has merit. So the disciple of Christ, who manifests His spirit of sacrifice, profits not by any merit of his own sacrifice, but by the merit of Christ's sacrifice. The heathen, as well as those who have a false conception of Christianity, are often deceived by the idea of merit through their own gifts or self-abasement, or some display of sacrifice. Such service is always at the expense of the commandments of God; and of this kind of sacrifice, no matter how zealously made, the Lord says: "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams." 1 Sam. 15:22. "To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." Prov. 21:3. The true spirit of sacrifice will always accompany the spirit of obedience.